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FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON.  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM  TO 

THE  LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


By  THE  SAME  A  UTHOR. 


THE  ANNA  SHIPTON  SERIES. 


Tell  Jesus. 

Waiting  Hours. 

Way-side  Service. 

Asked  of  God. 

The  Lost  Blessing. 
The  Secret  of  the  Lord. 

The  Promise  and  the  Promiser. 

The  Watchtower  in  the  Wilderness. 


in  Paper  Covers,  25  cents ;  in  Cloth,  75  cents. 


THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL,  Publisher, 

744  Broadway,  New  York. 


PRECIOUS  GEMS 


FOR 


THE  SAVIOUR'S  DIADEM. 


BY 


anna'shipton, 

AUTHOR  OF  M  TELL  JESUS,"  U  WAITING   HOURS,"  <CASKED  OF  GOD,' 

"SECRET  OF  THE  LORD,"   "THE  WATCH   TOWER," 

"  WAYSIDE  SERVICE,"  ETC. 


NEW  AND  REVISED  EDITION 


NEW  YORK: 
THOMAS    Y.    CROWELL   &    CO., 

No.  13  Astor  Place. 


THE  KING  WITH  MANY  CROWNS, 

WHO  TUBNETH  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH 
INTO  THE  MORNING, 

%  commit  %st  %mt  ffarraiifos  of  |ps  $rart, 

IN  FAITH  THAT  HE  WELL  BLESS  THEM 
FOB  HIS  NAME'S  BAKE. 


PREFACE. 


#<  They  shell  be  mine,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  in  thai 
day  when  I  make  up  my  jewels."  —  Mai.  iii.  17. 

RAGGED  boy  from  a  desolate  attic  in 
Spitalfields  ;  a  Rag-sorter  from  a  kitchen 
in  Kentish  Town  ;  a  poor  blind  Servant  in  the 
Union  ;  a  blaspheming  Sailor,  —  and  such  as 
these,  are  your  ■  Precious  Gems  ! '  " 

Nay,  dear  Friend,  not  mine,  but  the  Re- 
deemer's :  "  The  Lord  seeth  not  as  man  seeth, 
for  man  looketh  on  the  outward  appearance, 
but  the  Lord  looketh  on  the  heart." 

Bought  with  His  blood,  fair  in  His  comeli- 
ness, He  hath  put  upon  them  that  robe  of 
pei  feet  righteousness  which  He  hath  wrought 
for  them.  Behold  the  despised  children  of 
the  earth  now  altogether  fair,  and  standing  in 
holy  confidence  in  the  presence  of  the  King 
in  His  beauty,  "sons  and  daughters  of  the 
Lord  Almighty!" 

7 


8  PREFACE. 

There  amid  the  Marys  and  Manassehs,  pub- 
lican-Matthews and  dying  thieves,  mayest 
thou  hereafter  behold  them ;  seeing  the  Lord's 
invitation  to  thee  and  to '  me  proclaimeth, 
"  Whosoever  will,  let  him  come." 

Think  not,  because  you  find  here  the  little 
ones  of  the  flock,  that  therefore  they  cannot 
speak  but  to  children.  Try  them.  The  old 
man  loveth  the  lisping  babe ;  the  wise  often- 
times learn  from  childhood's  simple  wisdom ; 
nor  will  the  foolish  have  wandered  astray,  if 
he  finds  himself  at  the  feet  of  one  whom  the 
Lord  Jesus  hath  taken  up  in  His  arms,  laid 
His  hands  upon,  and  blessed.  He  waiteth 
to  be  gracious  to  him  —  to  all  who  will  come. 

If  thou  art  rich  and  nobly  born,  scorn  not 
their  record  because  on  earth  they  were  poor. 
If  thou  art  strong,  despise  them  not  because 
they  are  feeble;  if  thou  art  eloquent,  bid 
them  not  be  silent,  for  they  speak  according 
to  the  law  and  the  testimony  —  "Out  of  the 
mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  hast  Thou 
ordained  strength."     (Ps.  viii.  2.) 

I  send  them  forth  into  the  dark  places  of 


PREFACE.  9 

the  earth  —  whether  it  be  a  lighted  drawing- 
room,  or  by  the  weaver's  loom,  amid  the 
mothers'  meetings,  or  in  the  children's  corner 
—  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  goeth  with  them. 

"  Tell  me,  which  of  them  will  love  Him 
most  ?  "  Do  we  not  see  in  these  words  the 
answer  to  all  the  objections  of  which  the 
revealed  secrets  of  the  Pharisee's  heart  are 
the  example  ?  Is  it  not  the  consciousness  of 
the  imminent  peril  from  which  we  have  been 
rescued  that  endears  the  Deliverer  ?  Is  it 
not  the  sense  of  that  low  estate,  which  has 
sunk  us  beneath  the  reach  of  human  compas- 
sion, that  fills  the  heart  with  that  devotion  of 
love  which  draws  us  to  the  one  true,  the  one 
faithful  Friend,  who  stoops  to  comfort  and  to 
raise  those  whom  the  world  passes  by  as  out 
of  the  pale  of  hope  ?  And  do  we  not  gather 
from  this  question,  "  Tell  me,  which  of  them 
will  love  Him  most?  "  what  it  is  the  Saviour 
is  seeking  on  earth?  and  that  they,  whose 
hearts  are  most  with  love  to  Him,  stand  the 
nearest  to  Him  ? 

What  is  it  that  quenches  the  enmity  of  the 


10  PEEFACE. 

carnal  mind  against  God?  what  is  it  wins 
back  the  heart  of  the  prodigal  when  it  has 
gone  hopelessly  astray  —  but  the  love  of  God 
to  sinners,  "yet  dead  in  sins,"  suddenly 
unveiled  and  allowed  to  shine  forth  in  all 
its  unclouded  effulgence  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ  ?  It  is  this  unveiling  of  Divine  mercy 
to  the  ungodly  in  the  proclamation  of  an 
immediate  salvation  to  the  lost,  in  whatever 
stage  of  danger  they  may  be,  that  is  accom- 
plishing the  wondrous  work  of  grace  of  which 
tidings  are  reaching  us  from  every  quarter. 

And  you,  dear  Reader,  if  you  can  call  their 
Father  your  Father,  their  God  your  God,  lift 
up  your  heart  for  these  little  wayside  wander- 
ers ;  let  them  glean  their  short  hour  in  the 
fields,  white  already  to  harvest ;  nay,  drop 
some  ears  for  them  out  of  thine  own  sheaves, 
if  thou  art  in  the  service  of  the  same  Master ; 
for  they  also  would  serve  while  waiting  for 
the  promise,  that  "  they  that  be  wise  shall 
shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament ;  and 
they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the 
stars  forever  and  ever."     (Dan.  xii.  3.) 


CONTENTS. 


FIOI 
WHICH  WAY? 17 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY, 63 

WIDOW  GRAY, •         •         •  03 

"LOVE  DID  IT" Ill 

BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE, 141 

THE  NEW  SIXPENCE 161 

NAOMI'S  NIGHT  WATCH 191 


u  THE  FATHER  LOVETH  THE  SOH>  AND  HATH  GIVEN 

ALL  THINGS  INTO  HIS  HAND. 

THAT  BELIEVETH  ON  THE    SON  HATH  EVERLASTING  IJFB! 

AND  HE  THAT  BELIEVETH  NOT  THE  SON 

SHALL  NOT  SEE  LIFE;    BUT  THE  WRATH  OF  GOD 

ABIDETH  ON  HIM." 

John  ill.  36, 86. 


THE    WEDDING    GUESTS. 

'lovkst  thou  me  morb  THAN  THESE  lu  —  JohflT3a.  t$. 

The  feast  is  spread,  the  Master  waits, 

And  North  and  South,  and  East  and  West, 

There  issues  through  the  golden  gates 
A  welcome  to  each  wedding  Guest. 

Where  are  they  ?    For  a  crowd  should  throng 

This  festal  day  the  royal  board : 
Yet,  silent  is  the  joyful  song, 

No  answer  greets  a  gracious  Lord ! 

Hark  !  murmurs  and  excuses  rise, 
And  sordid  Care  hath  stronger  charm ; 

One  turns  him  to  his  merchandise, 
Another  pleads  his  thriving  farm ! 

Around  an  Idol's  shrine  they  sing, 

Upon  its  godless  worship  bent, 
Nor  heed  the  summons  of  the  King, 

And  scorn  the  Messenger  He  sent 

Will  ye  not  hearken,  and  draw  near  ? 

Behold  !  still  waits  an  open  door  ! 
Wake,  slumberers !    Rise !  and  wakened,  hear ! 

Ah  !  have  ye  never  heard  before  ? 

14 


THE  WEDDING  GUESTS.  15 

Into  the  city's  lanes  the  cry, 
"  All  things  are  ready,"  rolls  along, 

Highways  and  hedges  wandering  by, 
Far  sweeter  than  an  angel's  song. 

And  lo,  they  come !  the  deaf,  the  lame, 
The  broken-hearted,  and  the  blind : 

They  only  know  the  Lord  by  name, 
Yet  not  the  lamest  lags  behind. 

Wrapped  in  the  fair  and  seamless  dress, 

All  suited  to  their  regal  home, 
Safe  in  a  Saviour's  righteousness, 

Behold  the  eager  wanderers  come. 

Just  as  they  are,  in  all  their  need, 

In  poverty  and  sore  disease, 
Hunger  and  thirst  they  only  plead ; 

Lov'st  thou  the  Lord,  then,  more  than  these  ? 

Who  nothing  hath,  hath  nought  to  bring  ! 

So  enter,  sinner,  take  thy  rest ; 
Trust  in  the  word  of  Christ  our  King, 

And  be  a  welcome  wedding  guest 


"JUST  LIKE   ME!" 

NOW  IN  CHRIST    JESUS    YE  WHO    SOMETIMES  WERE  FAK  OFF 
MADE  NIGH   BY  THE  BLOOD  OF  CHRIST."  —  Eph.U.  13. 

"  Just  like  me  !  "  in  darkness  straying, 

Lost  amid  the  snares  of  death, 
Satan's  wiles  my  feet  betraying 

Down  to  hell  that  lurked  beneath ; 
Love  and  mercy  followed  me  — 
And  a  strong  arm  set  thee  free. 

"Just  like  me!"  —  the  Saviour  found  me, 
When  the  wild  flood  o'er  me  rolled, 
And  He  brake  the  bonds  that  bound  thee, 
And  He  wooed  thee  to  His  fold ; 
"A  long  way  off!  "  — a  long  time  He 
Had  watched  to  save  thee — just  like  me! 

'A  long  way  off"  from  Christ  and  glory, 
"  A  long  way  off"  from  joy  and  home ; 

None  told  the  sweet  peace-giving  story, 
Yet  Jesus  whispered,  "  Sinner,  come  ! 

Behold,  I  bore  the  curse  for  thee ; 

My  Father  loves  thee  —  come  to  ME  ! " 

And  now  from  Satan's  wiles  and  sorrow, 
And  sin,  and  poverty,  and  loss  — 

A  long  way  off  I —  a  cloudless  morrow 
Breaks  o'er  the  dark  noon  of  the  Cross. 

The  wanderer  hath  found  a  rest 

Upon  a  risen  Saviour's  breast ! 

16 


WHICH  WAY? 


OB, 

"FETCH  THEM  IN,  AND  TELL  THEM  OF  JESUS." 

— X>^£323<^K 

"  The  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself:  it  is  not  in  man 
that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps."  —  Jer.  x.  23. 


t^HJIrlE  warfare  of  a  child  of  God  is  often 
JC  on  a  visible  battle-field,  open  alike  to 
the  observation  of  the  Church  and  a  scoffing 
world ;  but  there  are  times,  as  he  proceeds  on 
his  wilderness  journey,  when  his  successes 
may  be  less  apparent  than  his  defeats.  On 
many  a  combat  the  door  of  the  closet  is 
closed ;  the  God  of  victories  and  the  great 
cloud  of  witnesses  alone  behold  the  result, 
over  which  angels  strike  their  golden  harps 
in  glory  to  the  Lamb. 

2  17 


18  WHICH  WAY? 

'.'We  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood, 
but  against  principalities,  against  powers, 
against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this 
world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high 
places ; "  or,  as  the  margin  gives,  "  wicked 
spirits  in  heavenly  places.'' 

The  great  Adversary  of  souls  has  perse- 
cuted God's  people  with  fire  and  sword,  and 
he  may  do  so  again ;  but  this  is  not  the  form 
of  his  attack  now;  to-day  he  is  transformed 
as  an  an^el  of  lisht;  wresting  the  word  of 
God  to  support  false  doctrine,  making  anti- 
christ of  works,  and  prayers,  and  ordinances, 
calling  good  evil  and  evil  good,  and  having  a 
form  of  godliness  without  the  power  thereof, 
deceiving  the  unwary. 

The  Church  is  surrounded  by  more  subtle 
dangers  than  in  her  days  of  persecution, 
when  martyrs  sang  praises  in  their  dungeons 
and  at  the  stake ;  the  enemies  of  the  truth 
judged  somewhat  of  the  power  of  the  cross 
by  the  readiness  of  its  followers  to  suffer, 
and,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  their  faith. 

But  is  there  no  stake,  no  scourge,  or  prison- 


WHICH   WAY?  19 

house  now,  for  the  followers  of  the  Lamb? 
For  the  promise  is  still  the  same,  that  "  those 
who  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suf- 
fer persecution."  Let  those  declare,  who 
have  fought  in  their  own  strength  and  failed, 
and  those  who  have  put  on  the  whole  armor 
of  God,  and,  strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the 
power  of  His  might,  have  conquered.  Satan 
is  still  the  same  evil  spirit  who,  assuming  the 
form  that  pleased  him,  won  the  ear  of  our 
first  mother:  the  same  that,  through  the  fa- 
miliar friend  of  our  Divine  Master,  would 
have  tempted  the  Saviour  of  sinners  to  pity 
Himself,  and  shun  the  completion  of  the  sac- 
rifice for  sin,  for  a  ruined,  guilty  world. 

The  temptation  to  forsake  the  path  of  duty 
for  the  world's  empty  pleasures  or  its  praise, 
is  seldom  offered  to  a  child  of  God.  By  faith 
he  has  beheld  the  goodly  land  flowing  with 
milk  and  honey,  and  tasted  of  the  fruit 
thereof;  to  him  the  mirth  of  the  world  is 
heaviness,  and  its  gifts  have  no  charms;  he 
knows  their  utter  worthlessness.  There  are 
trials,  many  and  *harp,  on  his  way  (it  is  part 


20  WHICH  WAY? 

of  his  earthly  heritage),  but  these  are  not 
among  them ;  and  truly,  if  he  had  been  mind- 
ful of  that  country  from  whence  he  came  out, 
he  might  have  had  opportunity  to  have  re- 
turned; bat  now  he  desires  a  better  country, 
that  is,  an  heavenly ;  "  wherefore  God  is  not 
ashamed  to  be  called  his  God,  for  He  hath 
prepared  for  him  a  city." 

Satan  has  other  weapons,  and  his  policy  is 
more  to  be  regarded  than  his  power ;  he 
comes  with  snares  to  perplex,  when  he  can- 
not hinder  or  impede ;  to  disturb  the  serenity 
of  the  spirit,  when  he  cannot  draw  the  foot 
aside.  But  this  is  provided  for  in  the  cov- 
enant of  grace.  Jt  is  not  the  dexterity  of  the 
workman  on  which  the  Father's  eye  rests 
with  complacency,  but  the  person  of  His  be- 
loved Son,  in  whom  He  is  well  pleased,  and 
therefore  with  His  Church  in  Him.  The 
peace  of  the  believer,  when  troubled  at  his 
own  apparent  failures,  finds  its  refuge  in  the 
perfection  of  Him  whom  in  simple  faith  he 
strives  to  follow. 

There   may  arise  two  or  more  objects  ar- 


WHICH   WAY?  21 

rayed  as  duties,  in  the  form  of  opportunity 
and  expediency,  to  ensnare,  perplexing  an 
otherwise  plain  path,  until  light  has  been 
sought  from  Him  who  is  "  wonderful  in 
counsel,  and  excellent  in  working." 

"When  the  man  of  God  went,  by  the  word 
of  the  Lord,  to  Bethel,  to  prophesy  against 
the  idolatry  of  Jeroboam  (1  Kings  xiii.),  he 
kept  the  direction  faithfully  in  view;  nor  for 
half  the  king's  house  would  he  eat  or  drink 
at  the  ro}~al  table.  Nor  did  the  Lord  disre- 
gard His  servant  in  the  path  He  had  assigned 
him,  but  protected  and  honored  him  in  it. 
The  monarch  was  forced  to  respect  the  mes- 
senger of  the  Most  High  in  his  office,  and 
the  daring  hand  raised  against  him  was  with- 
ered, ere  it  could  harm  a  hair  of  his  head, 
and  was  restored  only  by  the  prayer  of  him 
it  was  outstretched  to  destroy. 

So  far  the  prophet  had  faithfully  executed 
his  commission,  the  prophecy  had  been  pro- 
nounced, the  miracle  had  been  wrought ;  but 
that  part  of  the  command  which  concerned 
the   individual  walk  of  the  messenger  tim- 


22  "WHICH   WAY? 

self  still  remained,  to   test  his  perfect  obe- 
dience. 

While  following  the  word  of  the  Lord  as  it 
was  revealed  to  himself,  the  man  of  God 
walked  unscathed  amid  snares  and  dangers 
of  no  common  order;  but  before  a  lie  in  the 
mouth  of  a  stranger,  his  foot  was  drawn 
aside,  and  he  fell.  In  listening  to  what  only 
appeared  to  be  from  God,  he  was  taken  in 
the  snare  Satan  had  laid  for  him,  and  he 
turned  back  by  the  way;  he  did  eat  bread 
and  drink  water  in  that  place  in  which  the 
Lord  had  said,  "  Thou  shalt  eat  no  bread  and 
drink  no  water,  nor  turn  again  by  the  way 
that  thou  camest.',  The  faithfulness  of  the 
Lord's  servant  in  one  clause  of  his  duty  was 
not  the  less  important  in  the  sight  of  Jeho- 
vah, than  the  rending  of  the  altar,  or  the 
delivery  of  the  message  to  Jeroboam :  and 
this  is  forcibly  expressed  by  the  end.  It  was 
when  he  was  out  of  the  way  that  the  lion 
met  him  and  slew  him. 

The  child  of  God  who  wanders  out  of  the 
path  of  obedience  (and  who  does  not?)  may 


-which  way?  23 

be  permitted  to  feel  the  terror  of  the  lion; 
nay,  even  to  be  wounded ;  but  he  cannot 
perish ;  for  the  life  of  the  Good  Shepherd 
has  been  given  for  His  sheep.  But  whoever 
sought  counsel  of  the  Lord,  in  the  simple 
faith  of  one  who  knows  his  own  feebleness, 
and  confides  in  his  Father's  strength,  who 
has  not  had  reason,  both  in  time  and  in  eter- 
nity, to  bless  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
and  His  gracious  care  ! 

It  was  the  first  Lord's-day  in  the  year, 
when  a  Sunday-school  teacher  paced  her 
chamber  irresolute  and  perplexed,  as  she 
marked  the  hour  advancing  for  her  usual 
attendance  at  the  school.  She  held  a  note  in 
her  hand,  and  as  she  glanced  at  it  from  time 
to  time  she  inquired  doubtfully,  "Which 
way?  —  which  way  is  the  best  ?  " 

The  note  contained  a  request  that  she 
would  visit  a  sick  friend  lately  arrived  from 
the  country,  who  expressed  a  desire  to  see 
her  at  the  hour  that  was  now  approaching, 
while  a  call  in  another  direction,  on  which  it 


24  WHICH  WAY? 

is  now  unnecessary  to  enter,  seemed  to  have 
an  equal  claim  upon  her  time  and  heart. 
Either  of  these  services,  leading  as  they  did 
in  widely  different  directions,  involved  the 
necessity  of  foregoing  her  class,  which  she 
had  never  yet  failed  to  meet,  excepting  when 
laid  aside  by  sickness.  She  had  been  inter- 
ested in  the  spiritual  state  of  the  invalid,  but 
hitherto  opportunity  had  been  lacking  of 
pressing  on  her  friend  the  uncertain  issue  of 
her  illness,  and  the  eternal  interest  of  her  soul. 
Reason  argued,  an  opening  so  favorable  to 
her  purpose  might  never  again  occur,  and  the 
circumstance  of  the  expressed  desire  to  see  her 
seemed  to  point  her  a  leading  to  be  followed. 

The  other  call  appeared  to  be  of  little  less 
importance,  and  for  a  few  minutes  even  pre- 
ponderated in  the  balance.  All  the  ways  be- 
fore her  might  be  good  in  themselves,  yet 
none  were  really  so,  unless  the  presence  of 
the  Lord  went  with  her,  unless  His  voice 
said,  "  This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it." 

"Which  way?"  she  repeated,  as  the  ne- 
cessity  of  a  speedy  choice  pressed  on  het 


WHICH   WAY?  2d 

heart,  and  the  last  chime  before  the  hour 
arrested  her  steps.  There  is  one  way  always 
open,  the  new  and  living  Way,  and  there, 
like  Hezekiah,  she  spread  the  letter,  and 
cried  unto  the  Lord  God  of  Israel.  The 
great  High  Priest,  who  never  misunderstands 
the  sighs  and  groans  of  His  waiting  people, 
listened  to  her  complaint.  She  arose  calm, 
though  still  undecided,  but  content  that  the 
Lord's  will  should  be  done  in  her  and  by  her. 
But  she  now  saw  that  the  power  of  entering 
on  this  solemn  subject,  so  near  her  heart,  with 
her  sick  friend,  might  or  might  not  be  granted 
her;  yet  was  it  not  well  to  make  the  attempt? 
But  then  the  school!  Who  would  supply 
her  place  ?  It  was  too  late  to  attempt  to  pro- 
cure a  substitute ;  should  she  not  disappoint 
her  class  for  once  ? 

Again  she  sought  the  Throne  of  Grace 
(who  ever  sought  counsel  there  in  vain?), 
and  this  time  she  was  consciously  enlightened 
by  the  Holy  Spirit's  teaching.  She  saw  that 
one  duty  was  not  intended  to  displace  an- 
other, and  that  the  instruction  of  the  children 


26  WHICH  WAY? 

whom  God  had  clearly  placed  in  her  hands 
could  not,  must  not,  be  set  aside  for  an  un- 
certain service,  without  his  sanction.  How 
often,  from  want  of  seeking  such  counsel,  the 
Lord's  servants  are  made  to  feel  that  they 
have  become  the  servants  of  men,  and  dis- 
cover in  the  end  that  they  have  rushed  into 
paths  of  service  for  which  they  are  wholly 
unfitted,  and  that  they,  were  never  intended 
to  tread,  by  following  what  they  thought  a 
leading  of  Providence,  when  it  was,  more 
strictly  speaking,  a  trial  of  faith.  (Jonah  i.  3.) 

The  consequences  in  the  case  I  have  stated 
were  the  same  as  they  ever  will  be  in  all  de- 
cisions made  in  the  light  of  heaven,  with  the 
single  eye  to  God's  will.  The  path  of  duty 
became  clear,  leaving  the  soul  satisfied  with 
the  results,  whatever  they  might  be ;  for  hath 
not  the  Lord  said,  "  I  will  guide  thee  with 
Mine  eye"? 

Assured  and  happy  in  the  help  given  her 
in  her  hour  of  need,  my  friend  took  her  way 
to  the  school,  and  entered  on  her  duties  with 
the  strength  and  joy  that  seemed  granted  her, 


WHICH  WAY?  27 

in  proportion  to  the  wrestle  and  perplexity 
of  that  silent  chamber.  But  let  her  tell  her 
own  story. 

44 1  have  been  accustomed,  during  a  pause 
in  the  duties  of  the  afternoon  of  the  Lord's- 
day,  to  go  out  into  the  street  and  seek  to  win 
some  stragglers  to  the  Sunday-school,  and 
bring  them  in  under  the  teaching  of  the 
Word,  if  only  for  the  hour  which  then  re- 
mains to  us.  This  day  I  was  returning,  after 
an  unsuccessful  search,  when  I  was  attracted 
by  a  child  not  far  from  the  entrance  of  tho 
school-house.  Her  arms  were  interlaced  in 
the  palisades  which  surround  the  inclosure, 
and  her  pale  face  pressed  against  the  iron- 
work. A  child,  such  as  may  be  seen  more 
frequently  in  the  crowded  haunts  of  our  great 
cities  than  elsewhere,  born  amidst  vice  and 
disease,  dwelling  in  some  dark  cellar  or  hid- 
den den,  from  which  the  light  of  heaven  is 
excluded  as  if  it  bore  pestilence  rather  than 
healing  on  its  wings. 

"  I  have  seen  many  children,  and  older  per- 


28  WHICH  WAY? 

sons  too,  in  dirt  and  rags,  but  I  never  saw 
such  abject  wretchedness  as  was  conveyed  in 
that  old-looking,  wrinkled  face  and  listless 
form  before  me.  She  seemed,  in  attitude  and 
expression,  to  have  neither  interest  nor  lot  in 
the  life  around  her.  I  thought  she  might  be 
about  nine  years  of  age,  but  I  afterwards 
learned  that  she  was  upwards  of  thirteen.  I 
spoke  to  her,  and  asked  her  if  she  would  come 
in  with  me,  and  hear  the  children  sing.  She 
shook  back  the  long  tangled  locks  of  her  sun- 
burnt hair,  and  looked  vacantly  in  my  face, 
as  if  scarcely  comprehending  my  question;  but 
on  my  repeating  the  invitation,  she  followed 
me  without  a  word. 

"  The  little  stranger  sat  silently  listening 
to  the  hymn  of  the  children,  the  simple  dis- 
course, and  the  few  words  addressed  individu- 
ally to  the  scholars.  The  school  over,  she 
departed ;  but  on  the  morning  of  the  follow- 
ing Lord's-day  I  found  her  of  her  own  accord 
seated  in  the  place  she  had  previously  occu- 
pied. 

'*  I  know  not  how  it  was,  I  seemed  to  ba 


WHICH   WAY?  29 

used  this  day  as  I  never  had  been  used  before ; 
I  felt  myself  a  child  speaking  to  children. 
The  Holy  Ghost  was  ver}^  present  with  us ; 
tears  were  on  the  cheeks  of  many  of  the  little 
ones ;  I  was  myself  so  engrossed  with  my  sub- 
ject (the  parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son)  that  it 
was  only  at  the  close  of  the  address  that  I 
turned  to  glance  at  the  new  scholar.  Her 
eyes  were  fixed  eagerly  on  my  face  as  she 
breathlessly  drank  in  the  words  which  fell 
from  my  lips.  I  proceeded  to  make  the  ap- 
plication of  the  parable,  and  she  drew  closer 
and  closer  to  m}r  side,  and  gathering  up  the 
hem  of  my  dress,  fold  upon  fold,  she  held  it 
firmly  clenched  in  her  long  thin  fingers,  as  if 
she  feared  to  lose  me  before  she  had  heard  the 
fulness  of  gospel  grace  extended  to  sinners. 

M  Our  parting  hymn  was  sung,  and  the  chil- 
dren went  away  ;  but  this  child  did  not  move. 
We  were  left  alone.  Then  I  spoke  to  her  of 
Jesus,  and  made  her  repeat  after  me  a  simple 
prayer  for  the  gift  of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  She 
learned  it  more  rapidly  than  I  could  have 
thought  possible,  judging  from  her  unintelli* 


30  WHICH  WAT? 

gent  countenance.  As  she  was  leaving,  I  said 
to  her  : 

44 1  Will  you  come  and  see  us  again  next 
Lord's-day,  and  hear  of  the  Good  Shepherd, 
of  whom  I  will  tell  you  ? ' 

"  4 1  dare  not,'  she  replied.  ■  Father  will 
beat  me  if  I  do;  he  won't  let  me  go  to 
church.' 

"  *  But  this  is  a  school,  not  a  church,'  I  sug- 
gested. 

"  '  It's  like  one,  though  ;  he  won't  let  me 
come  here ;  but  I  will  come,'  she  added  quick- 
ly, in  an  impetuous  and  determined  manner. 

"  I  tried  to  show  her  that  obedience  was 
the  first  step  towards  the  knowledge  of  Jesus, 
and  that  she  must  previously  seek  her  father's 
permission  ;  and  I  offered  to  endeavor  to  ob- 
tain it  for  her,  if  she  would  tell  me  where  she 
lived. 

"  A  gleam  of  satisfaction  crossed  her  face, 
and  she  minutely  described  the  way  to  the 
street,  and  the  cellar  in  which  I  should  find 
them.  Accordingly,  during  the  week  follow- 
ing I  discovered  their  miserable  lodging.    The 


WHICH  WAY  ?  31 

father  of  the  poor  girl  was  absent  seeking  for 
work,  and  the  woman  I  found  there,  and 
whom  I  at  first  thought  was  her  mother, 
reluctantly  consented  for  the  child  to  attend 
the  school. 

"  I  had  scarcely  taken  my  place  the  next 
Lord's  day,  when  the  gaunt-looking  little 
stranger  again  appeared.  Her  earnest  atten- 
tion and  evident  pleasure  increased,  as  I  went 
on  to  tell  them  of  the  lost  sheep,  and  the  love 
of  our  Good  Shepherd  to  his  wandering  ones, 
whom,  when  he  had  found,  he  laid  on  his 
shoulders  rejoicing. 

"  Again  and  again  my  heart  rose  in  praise 
and  thanksgiving  to  Him  who  had  heard  the 
voice  of  my  prayer,  and,  by  thus  guiding  me 
to  choose  the  safe  path  of  duty  already  allotted 
to  me,  had  bestowed  on  me  the  unspeakable 
privilege  of  leading  this  little  stray  lamb  to 
the  Saviour's  feet. 

"  In  the  afternoon,  my  new  scholar  was 
again  in  the  place  she  had  chosen,  silent  and 
absorbed  ;  but  the  next  Lord's-day  I  missed 
her.     The  week  had  nearly  closed,  when  the 


32  WHICH   WAY? 

woman  with  whom  she  lived  called  at  my 
house,  and  told  me  the  child  was  very  ill ; 
that  she  had  taken  a  had  cold  in  the  first 
place,  from  attending  the  school,  adding 
roughly,  '  You  had  better  go  and  look  after 
her/  I  knew  it  was  not  likely  to  be  true 
that  her  illness  could  be  caused  by  her  at- 
tending the  school ;  but  I  felt  that  even  if  it 
were  so,  it  was  well. 

"Again  I  entered  the  miserable  cellar, 
which  these  poor  people  called  'home;'  so 
dark  was  it,  that  on  leaving  the  daylight  of 
the  narrow  street,  all  objects  within  were  in- 
distinct. 

4i  The  occupation  of  the  family  was  that  of 
rag-sorting.  On  a  heap  of  the  larger  rags, 
which  formed  her  bed  (though  the  room  it- 
self had  many  other  nightly  occupants),  lay 
my  little  stranger  scholar,  more  wan  and 
wasted  than  1  could  have  imagined  possible 
in  the  short  time  that  had  elapsed  since  we 
had  parted.  I  approached  her,  and  after 
waiting  a  few  moments  to  see  if  she  would 
recognize  me,  I  spoke.     She  knew  nry  voice, 


WHICH  WAY?  33 

and  motioned  me  to  come  closer  to  her,  ex- 
claiming in  a  shrill  voice  : 

"  4  O,  come  !  Come  here,  and  tell  me  of 
Elmr 

"  4  Tell  you  what  ?  of  whom  ? '  I  inquired, 
wishing  to  discover  if  she  had  retained  any- 
thing of  the  truth.  She  looked  at  me  half 
reproachfully,  puzzled  at  the  possibility  of 
my  forgetting  what  I  had  taught  her,  and 
in  a  subdued  voice  she  replied  : 

"  4  Why  —  you  know.  Tell  me  of  Him  — 
that  good  gentleman  that  you  called  Jesus  !  * 

"  Motionless  she  listened,  with  her  eyes 
fixed  on  my  face,  while  once  more  I  opened 
to  her  the  wondrous  story  of  a  Saviour's  love 
to  sinners,  and  how  he  came  to  seek  and  to 
save  the  lost.  I  pointed  to  the  One  Sacrifice 
for  sins  forever,  to  the  blood  of  the  Crucified 
as  full  satisfaction  for  the  sinner's  guilt.  I 
told  her  Satan  and  our  corrupt  hearts  would 
strive  to  induce  us  to  accept  anything  rather 
than  the  offers  of  free  grace  and  a  Saviour's 
righteousness.  The  love  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
sinful  men  was  the  fountain  of  living  water 


34  WHICH  WAY? 

of  which  this  poor  wanderer  desired  to  drink 
deeply ;  she  longed  to  follow  the  Good  Shep- 
herd, she  to  whom  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom 
had  never  before  been  preached,  and  who 
three  weeks  ago  knew  nothing  of  the  treas- 
ures laid  up  for  all  who  feel  their  lost  and 
i; lined  state.  Her  vacant  countenance  bright- 
ened with  intelligence,  her  very  features 
seemed  altered,  while  she  listened  with  in- 
creasing satisfaction  to  'the  good  tidings  of 
great  joy.'  Many  might  have  marvelled  at 
her  indifference  to  all  outward  things  ;  but 
it  was  not  strange  to  me.  She  sought  Life 
Eternal,  and  drank  in  the  Lord's  loving  in- 
vitation to  all,  as  one  who  heard  Jesus  pass- 
ing by. 

"  The  following  day,  when  I  visited  her,  I 
was  painfully  struck  by  the  rapid  progress 
of  her  disease.  The  flushed  cheek ;  the  rest- 
less eye,  which  ceaselessly  wandered  around, 
as  if  in  search  of  some  person  or  thing  that 
she  failed  to  find ;  the  uneasy  tossing  from 
side  to  side ;  the  rapid,  meaningless  question, 
—  all  convinced  me  that  the  delirium  attend 


WHICH  WAY?  35 

ant  on  the  fever  had  set  in,  and  filled  me 
with  anxiety  lest  I  had  come  too  late  to  hear 
her  speak  to  me  again  and  tell  me  of  her 
hope. 

14 1  bent  over  her,  and  asked  her  if  she  knew 
me.  She  gave  me  no  intelligible  reply.  In 
my  distress,  I  fell  on  my  knees,  and  prayed 
earnestly  for  one  more  opportunity  of  speak- 
ing to  her  of  the  Saviour ;  and  He,  who  of  old 
stood  by  the  fever-bed,  was  beside  this  also, 
and  that  to  calm  and  sustain  ;  for  while  I  was 
pleading  with  Him  for  help  in  my  helpless- 
ness, the  poor  sufferer's  restlessness  abated. 
In  less  than  an  hour  she  recognized  me,  and 
ner  face  turned  towards  me  in  expectation,  as 
if  still  thirsting  for  the  water  of  life. 

"  I  took  my  place  by  her  bed,  and  went  on 
to  repeat  to  her,  in  a  low  voice,  the  parable 
of  the  prodigal  son  (Luke  xv.  11),  which  at 
our  first  meeting  had  so  deeply  impressed  her. 
The  little  hunger-pinched  face  became  calm 
and  composed,  and  the  distressing  excitement 
gave  place  to  eager  but  profound  attention. 
At  that  touching  passage,  w  When  he  was  yet 


36  WHICH  WAY? 

a  great  way  off,  his  father  saw  him,'  &c,  she 
exclaimed,  in  a  short  decided  manner  —  a 
manner  peculiar  to  these  neglected  little 
ones,  reared  in  the  very  hotbed  of  sin  and 
strife : 

"  '  Ah  !  that  was  just  like  me  !  —  That's 
good  —  say  it  again.  A  great  way  off — f 
What,  ever  so  far  ?  Away  —  away  —  like 
me  with  the  devil  ?  That  must  be  far  from 
God  and  the  Lamb!' 

"  After  a  pause,  to  moisten  her  poor,  black, 
parched  lips,  she  continued,  '  Yes  !  I  was  a 
great  way  off.  But  the  father  saw  him  before 
he  saw  the  father — that's  like  me  again !  Why 
did  he  not  clean  himself  a  little  before  he  went 
home?  I  would  —  O,  I  forgot!'  she  added 
quickly,  and  in  a  tone  of  deep  sadness ;  4  you 
said  we  could  not  make  ourselves  clean.  I 
wish  we  could  !  I  should  like  to  show  Jesus 
i-hat  I  want  to  be  good.' 

"  I  tried  to  make  her  understand  that  her 
heavenly  Father  saw  her  desire  to  be  a  good 
child,  and  had  put  away  the  filthiness  of  sin 
from  her,  for  His  sake  who  hath  died  for  her, 


WHJCH  WAY?  37 

that  she  might  be  made  pure  and  holy  in  His 
precious  blood.  That  this  kind  Father,  who 
bade  me  invite  her  to  go  to  Him,  had  provided 
her  with  a  clean  heart  (Ezek.  xi.  19),  without 
which  no  one  can  see  God. 

*"0,  how  good,  how  kind !  but — '  she  hesi- 
tated, and  covered  her  face  with  her  long, 
thin  fingers,  as  her  tears  flowed  fast,  and  sob 
after  sob  almost  choked  her  utterance — 4I  am 
afraid  I  have  been  worse  than  that  bad  son. 
I  have  told  lies ;  and  you  said  no  liar  could 
enter  the  beautiful  home.  I  have  used  bad 
words  —  awful  bad  words  —  worse  than  you 
know  of ;  and  God  said  no  one  should  take 
His  name  in  vain.  I  have  had  a  book, 
too,  full  of  wicked  songs,  and  I  have  sung 
them  ;  —  and  —  don't  turn  away  your  head 
—  I  have  —  stolen  too !  —  I  thought  of  all 
this  when  I  came  home,  and  for  a  long  time 
I  felt  frightened  to  go  to  God  ;  but  all  at 
once  I  remembered  about  the  thief — that 
poor  thief  who  died  with  Jesus,  you  know ; 
and  as  soon  as  everybody  was  fast  asleep  in 
our  room,  I  got  up  ;  very  softly  I  went  over 


38  WHICH  WAY? 

into  the  corner  there  by  the  fire,  I  took  my 
song-book  and  tore  it  into  little  pieces,  red 
cover  and  all,  though  I  once  thought  it  so 
pretty.  I  struck  a  match,  I  burnt  it,  every 
morsel,  to  tinder.  Then  I  said,  "  Dear  Jesus, 
I  want  very  much  to  love  you.  I  want  to  get 
away  from  the  devil ;  please  help  me  !  Take 
away  my  naughty  thoughts,  please  do,  dear 
Jesus  !  "  I  think  He  heard  me  ;  I  know  he 
did,'  she  added  with  animation,  4  for  I  felt 
somehow  different  ever  since.  I  am  not  afraid 
now  —  no,  not  one  bit !  and  I  love  Him  — 
O,  so  much  ! ' 

"  Much  passed  between  us  that  I  cannot 
accurately  recall.  She  grew  in  grace,  as  those 
alone  grow  who  are  taught  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
of  God ;  and  I  was  permitted  to  witness  it, 
evermore  to  keep  in  thankful  remembrance 
this  landmark  of  my  own  spiritual  life,  and 
the  love  of  my  heavenly  Father. 

"  During  the  night  it  was  necessary  to  keep 
her  very  quiet ;  afterwards  I  read  and  prayed, 
and  talked  with  her,  as  simply  as  I  could  ; 


WHICH  WAY?  39 

asking  her  once  or  twice  if  she  quite  under- 
stood me,  to  which  she  quickly  replied : 

'* fc  Yes,  yes  ;  don't  stop  ;  we  haven't  long.' 

"  She  remained  perfectly  calm  and  peaceful, 
and  about  eicrht  o'clock  fell  into  a  slumber. 
After  an  absence  of  some  hours,  for  the  dis- 
charge of  other  duties,  I  returned,  and  found 
sleep  had  given  place  to  a  sort  of  stupor. 
This,  however,  did  not  continue  long  ;  but 
her  restlessness  for  a  time  was  excessive,  and 
her  throat  was  so  parched  and  painful,  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  she  could  speak  to  be  un- 
derstood. 

"  I  spoke  to  her  of  her  Saviour's  sufferings, 
of  His  thirst ;  adding,  'And  all  this  He  bore 
for  you.'* 

"  The  upturned  eyes,  and  glance  of  intense 
gratitude,  I  cannot  describe  ;  but  I  shall  never 
forget  as  she  whispered,  *  Thank  you,  dear 
Jesus  ! ' 

"  I  watched  her  for  a  few  minutes  in  silence ; 
but  she  looked  at  me  wistfully,  as  if  she  had 
something  more  to  say,  but  could  not  express 


40 


it ;  nor  could  I  understand  what  she  wanted 
for  some  little  time.     At  last  I  said : 

"  4  Do  you  wish  me  to  thank  God  for  you?' 

"  4  Yes,  yes  !     O,  that's  it ! '  she  replied. 

"  During  the  next  two  hours,  which  were 
spent  in  reading  or  repeating  to  her  portions 
of  the  Word,  or  in  prayer,  she  was  frequently 
slightly  delirious  ;  but  even  then  out  of  the 
abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  spoke,  and 
the  often-repeated  words,  'Father,  I  have 
sinned  !  —  make  me  one  of  thy  servants.  — 
Saw  him  a  great  way  off ;  —  ran  —  not  the  son, 
the  Father  ran.  —  O  God,  grant  me  Thy 
Holy  Spirit !  Take  away  my  naughty  heart, 
please  give  me  a  new  one  !  Wash  me,  make 
me  clean  in  the  blood  of  Jesus  ! '  proved  that 
the  parable,  which  first  attracted  her  attention 
and  the  prayer,  the  first  she  was  ever  taught 
to  utter,  were  constantly  in  her  mind. 

44  Night  came,  and  it  was  evident  that  the 
poor  tenement  would  not  much  longer  be  re- 
quired, and  that  this  fair,  new-born,  blood- 
cleansed  soul  was  about  to  join  the  countlesa 
host  of  the  redeemed. 


WHICH  WAY?  41 

"  Death  clamps  stood  upon  her  face,  which 
yet  beamed  brighter  in -the  valley  of  shadows 
than  it  had  ever  shown  in  the  valley  of  tears  ; 
her  feet  were  cold,  and  her  hands  also,  though 
they  continued  folded  in  prayer. 

"  I  whispered  a  few  words  to  her  in  refer- 
ence to  the  glory  she  would  soon  behold  face 
to  face  with  Jesus  ! 

"  It  was  a  solemn  hour.  One  mightier  than 
the  mightiest  of  this  world  was  there,  and  I 
felt  his  awful  presence  ;  but  thanks  be  unto 
the  God  of  all  grace,  a  mightier  than  he  was 
there  also,  his  Conqueror,  my  Refuge  and 
Strength,  her  Ransom  and  Deliverer. 

"  For  a  time  all  was  still,  even  the  la- 
bored breathing  ceased,  when  with  sudden 
energy,  and  far  greater  power  than  I  could 
have  supposed  it  possible  for  her  to  have  re- 
tained, she  raised  herself  up,  and  with  her 
earnest  eyes  fixed  on  my  own,  she  said,  in  a 
clear,  distinct  voice : 

"  4  Fetch  them  in  !  Oh,  be  sure  and  fetch 
them  in,  and  tell  them  of  Jesus  !  —  Tell  them 
of — Jesus  I ' 


42  WHICH  WAY? 

"  Again  there  was  a  silence  ;  she  scarcely 
breathed  ;  a  slight  spasm  crossed  her  face  — 
all  was  nearly  over.  —  I  said  : 

" 4  Dear  child  !  Jesus  has  gained  the  VIC- 
TORY FOR  YOU"  !  * 

a  She  caught  the  word,  and  with  a  shout  of 
gladness  such  as  never  rang  from  those  pallid 
lips  before,  in  the  fourteen  years  of  her  sor- 
rowful life,  she  cried  : 

"  '  Victory  !  victory  !  I  am  washed  —  and 
made  clean  !  —  Glory  —  ' 

"  The  rest  of  the  song  was  sung  with  the 
happy  children  of  her  Father's  house,  '  who 
hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more,  nei- 
ther shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat ; 
for  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne  shall  feed  them,  and  shall  lead  them 
unto  living  fountains  of  waters;  and  God  shall 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes.' 

"  The  dead  was  alive  again  !  The  lost  was 
found  !  The  fourth  Lord's-day  was  dawning 
since  I  had  stood  where  two  ways  met,  and  in 
my  perplexity  sought  the  mighty  Counsellor, 


WHICH  WAY?  43 

who  has  said,  « Call  unto  Me,  and  I  .vill  an- 
swer thee,  and  shew  thee  great  and  mighty 
things  which  thou  knowest  not.'  The  eye  of 
the  Lord,  that  runneth  to  and  fro  upon  the 
earth,  beheld  in  that  hour  the  little  wanderer, 
ia  long  icay  off,'  and  sent  me  forth  (feeble  in- 
strument as  I  am)  as  His  messenger  of  mercy; 
and  now  she  would  appear  with  Him  in  glory ; 
the  best  robe  was  put  upon  her  ;  the  ring  of 
espousal  was  on  her  hand  ;  the  Saviour  of 
sinners  had  embraced  her ;  the  kiss  of  peace 
was  on  her  cheek ;  her  dwelling  was  the  beau- 
tiful home  of  Him  who  was  '  called  Jesus,  for 
He  shall  save  His  people  from  their  sins.' 

44  She  had  entered  by  ''the  way,  the  truth, 
and  the  life,'  by  Him  i  who  of  God  is  made 
unto  us  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and  sanc- 
tification,  and  redemption.' '     (1  Cor.  i.  30.) 

Which  way,  dear  reader  ?  for  in  this  life 
only  two  ways  open  before  you.  Have  you 
made  your  choice  ?     If  not,  choose  ye  to-day. 

One  is  a  narrow  way,  so  narrow,  there  ia 
only  room  for  the  Shepherd  and  His  sheep  to 


44  WHICH  WAY? 

walk  therein.  It  is  a  rough  path.  It  is  writ- 
ten, "  I  have  chosen  you  out  of  the  world, 
therefore  the  world  hateth  you."  "  If  they 
have  persecuted  Me,  they  will  also  persecute 
you."  "In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribula- 
tion ;  but  be  of  good  cheer,  I  have  overcome 
the  world.  The  servant  shall  be  as  his  Mas- 
ter ; "  yes,  both  here  and  hereafter.  "  It  is 
a  faithful  saying:  For  if  we  be  dead  with 
Him,  we  shall  also  live  with  Him  ;  if  we  suf- 
fer, we  shall  also  reign  with  Him  :  if  we  deny 
Him,  He  also  will  deny  us."  (2  Tim.  ii.  11, 
12.) 

The  followers  of  the  Good  Shepherd  are 
often  weary  and  afraid  (Mark  x.  32 ;  2  Cor. 
xi.  27),  yet  not  one  has  been  known  to  perish 
through  feebleness  or  fear.  He  who  goeth 
before  them  gathereth  the  lambs  in  His  arm, 
and  carrieth  them  in  His  bosom,  and  gently 
leads  those  that  are  with  young.  There  are 
steep  mountains,  and  thorny  brakes,  and  dark 
valleys  on  the  road;  but  there  are  also  pleas- 
ant places,  even  in  the  wilderness,  still  waters 
and  green  pastures,  where  the  flock  lie  down 


WHICH  WAY?  45 

at  noon.  Feeble  ones  who  keep  close  to  the 
Shepherd's  side,  hear  His  voice.  He  is  their 
Refuge,  and  their  Strong  Tower,  and  House 
of  Defence  against  their  enemies.  They  are 
often  bruised  and  wounded  on  the  way,  but 
they  have  a  Great  Physician  who  holds  a  balm 
for  every  wound,  a  medicine  and  cordial  for 
all  diseases.  They  forget  the  sorrows  of  the 
way  for  the  joy  of  the  hope  set  before  them 
—  a  joy  with  which  the  stranger  intermed- 
dleth  not.  So,  He  whom  they  loved  leadeth 
them  to  the  city  of  habitation  where  they 
would  be.  "  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear 
heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of 
man/'  what  blessedness  awaits  that  little 
flock. 

The  narrow  path  has  only  a  place  for  the 
Saviour  and  the  soul,  but  it  leadeth  to  L.'fe 
Eternal. 

The  other  way  is  broad,  and  the  gate  is 
wide,  and  many  go  in  thereat.  It  offers  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  and  the  glory  of 
them  :  the  travellers  on  it  spend  their  days 
in  wealth,  and  in  a  moment  go  down  to  the 


46  WHICH  WAY? 

grave  ;  the  end  of  their  mirth  is  heaviness, 
The  prince  of  this  world  bestows  pleasures 
that  perish  in  the  using,  and  rocks  his  ser- 
vants in  dreams,  while  they  sleep  the  sleep  of 
death.  They  have  no  hope  but  for  this  life. 
They  have  burdens  of  cares  for  which  no 
promise  is  given  ;  they  have  sorrows  for  which 
no  comfort  is  prepared.  Anxious  and  weary, 
their  staff  is  at  best  a  broken  reed,  which  if 
any  man  lean  on  it,  it  shall  pierce  his  hand. 
There  is  a  future,  but  it  is  so  hideous,  that 
the  ruler  of  wickedness  in  high  places  hides 
it  from  the  sight  of  his  people,  lest  it  fright 
them  from  his  dominion.  That  broad  path 
has  room  for  the  sinner  and  his  sins,  his  empty 
joys  and  his  foolish  mirth ;  it  is  the  path  of 
the  Destroyer,  and  the  end  thereof  is  destruc- 
tion. He  gives  his  subjects  their  heart's  de- 
sire, and  therefore  they  say  unto  God,  "  De- 
part from  us ;  we  desire  not  the  knowledge 
of  thy  ways.  What  is  the  Almighty  that  we 
should  serve  Him  ?  and  what  profit  should 
we  have  if  we  pray  to  Him  ?  " 

Which  way,  dear  reader  —  which  way  are 


WHICH  WAY?  47 

you  journeying?  Have  you  died  to  sin,  and 
are  you  risen  with  Christ  ?  or  do  you  find 
your  happiness  in  living  for  this  world,  for 
time,  and  for  Satan? 

To  the  Unconverted.  —  With  you  the 
question,  "Which  way?"  is  one  of  life  or 
death,  as  it  was  with  this  poor  child.  What- 
ever your  condition  outwardly,  you  are  in  the 
same  state,  spiritually,  as  she  was  when  the 
Gospel  first  met  her.  True,  you  may  be 
vastly  superior  in  many  things  to  the  little 
rag-sorter;  but  Lazarus  and  Dives  present  a 
startling  contrast  in  the  world  of  spirits  to 
what  they  exhibit  on  earth.  Natural  moral- 
ity and  amiability,  refinement,  education,  in- 
tellectual attainments,  and  other  advantages 
of  a  similar  kind,  make  no  difference  in  this 
respect.  Constitutional  virtues,  which  were 
born  with  the  flesh,  will  perish  with  this  life ; 
there  is  no  place  for  them  in  the  abode  of  the 
lost !  If  not  born  again,  you  are  a  child  of 
wrath,  even  as  she  was ;  you  are  such  as  the 
bij  th  of  the  flesh  made  you,  and  an  eternity 


48  WHICH  WAY? 

of  remorse,  of  horrors,  is  before  you.  What, 
then,  won  the  heart  and  turned  the  mind  of 
this  lost  one  to  choose  the  way  of  life  ?  The 
love  of  Jesus!  The  same  has  been  shown  to 
you ;  the  same  blood  was  shed  for  you ;  the 
same  infinite  obligations  are  laid  upon  you; 
the  Saviour  of  sinners  yearneth  over  you; 
and  you  will  not  go  unto  Him  that  you  may 
have  life ! 

Be  not  deceived  by  vain  words.  God  is 
not  mocked.  Calling  yourself  a  believer  does 
not  make  you  one.  You  may  be  a  member 
of  a  section  of  a  church  on  earth,  and  have 
no  lot  or  portion  in  the  church  of  the  first- 
born. You  may  feel  confident  in  the  thought 
that,  by  the  virtues  of  baptism,  your  soul  is 
regenerate,  and  therefore  you  are  secure  of 
heaven,  when  the  blood  of  sprinkling  has  not 
come  nigh  you,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  has  no 
dwelling  in  your  heart.     Oh,  look  well  to  it ! 

We  live  in  times  that  may  well  startle 
sleepers  from  their  slumbers.  God's  ambas- 
sadors run  to  and  fro  upon  the  earth,  warning 
men  to  flee   from   the  wrath   to    come ;   and 


WHICH  WAY?  49 

even  this  feeble  messenger  of  lov«  would 
plead  with  you  in  all  tenderness.  Be  per- 
suaded to  pity  yourself.  Shall  the  Lord  Je- 
sus have  loved  yon  in  vain?  Shall  His  pre- 
cious blood  have  been  shed  on  Calvary  for 
you,  and  will  you  despise  it  ?  the  ransom  paid 
for  you,  and  you  trample  on  it  ?  "  Turn  ye, 
turn  ye  ;  why  will  ye  die  ?  " 

"Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together, 
saith  the  Lord :  though  your  sins  be  as  scar- 
let, they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow  ;  though 
they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool." 

Hell  was  not  prepared  for  you,  but  for  the 
evil  spirit  that  tempts  you.  Darkness  was 
not  thrust  on  you ;  it  was  your  choice,  be- 
cause your  deeds  are  evil. 

Wait  not  for  to-morrow ;  you  know  not 
what  to-morrow  has  in  store.  Does  some 
darling  sin  keep  you  back,  making  you 
afraid  ?  Despise  not  the  teaching  of  a  little 
child,  but  take  it  to  the  feet  of  Jesus  ;  He 
will  give  you  strength  to  forsake  it ;  He  will 
open  your  eyes,  that  you  may  choose  the 
4 


50  WHICH  WAY? 

good,  and  forsake  the  evil ;  He  will  wash 
your  conscience  from  its  stains,  take  away 
your  filthy  garments  from  you,  cause  your 
iniquity  to  pass  from  you,  and  clothe  you 
with  a  change  of  raiment.  He  offers  to  set  a 
crown  upon  your  head.  Look  not  on  your 
sins,  nor  your  prayers,  nor  your  need  of  faith. 
Look  to  Jesus! 

The  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and  truth. 
Bis  way  is  the  way  of  life.  The  path  of  the 
worldling  is  the  path  of  the  destroyer ;  and 
the  end  of  it  is  death.  Choose  ye  this  day  — 
Which  Way? 

THE    INVITATION. 

"Come."  —  Matt.  xi.  28. 

I  have  a  Friend  !  a  precious  Friend, 

Unchanging,  wise,  and  true, 
The  chief  among  ten  thousand  ! 

Oh,  I  wish  you  knew  Him  too ! 
Encompassed  by  a  host  of  foes, 

Weary  in  heart  and  limb, 
I  know  who  waits  to  soothe  my  woe ; 

Have  you  a  Friend  like  Him? 


WHICH  WAY?  51 

He  comforts  me,  He  strengthens  me ; 

How  can  I  then  repine  ? 
He  loveth  me  /    This  faithful  Friend 

In  life  and  death  is  mine. 

I  have  a  Father  true  and  fond, 

He  cares  for  all  my  needs, 
His  patience  bore  my  faithless  ways, 

My  mad  and  foolish  deeds  ; 
To  me  He  sends  sweet  messages, 

He  waiteth  but  to  bless  ; 
Have  you  a  Father  like  to  mine, 

In  such  deep  tenderness  ? 
For  me  a  kingdom  doth  He  keep, 

For  me  a  crown  is  won ; 
I  was  a  rebel  once ;  He  calls 

The  rebel-child  His  son. 

I  have  a  proved  unerring  Guide, 

Whose  love  I  often  grieve, 
He  brings  me  golden  promises 

My  heart  can  scarce  receive  ; 
He  leadeth  me,  and  hope  and  cheer 

Doth  for  my  path  provide  ; 
For  dreary  nights  and  days  of  drought 

Have  you  so  sure  a  Guide  ? 
Quench  not  the  faintest  whisper 

That  the  heavenly  Dove  may  bring, 


52  wmcn  way? 

He  seeks  with  holy  love  to  lure 
The  wanderer  'neath  His  wing. 

I  have  a  home  —  a  home  so  bright, 

Its  beauties  none  can  know ; 
Its  sapphire  pavements,  and  such  palms 

None  ever  saw  below ; 
Its  golden  streets  resound  with  joy, 

Its  pearly  gates  with  praise  ; 
A  temple  standeth  in  the  midst, 

No  human  hands  could  raise ; 
And  there  unfailing  fountains  flow, 

And  pleasures  never  end ; 
Who  makes  that  home  so  glorious  ? 

It  is  my  loving  Friend. 

My  Friend,  my  Father,  and  my  Guide, 

And  this  our  radiant  home, 
Are  offered  you  —  turn  not  away  ! 

To-day  I  pray  you  "  Come." 
My  Father  yearns  to  welcome  you, 

His  heart,  His  house,  to  share  ; 
My  Friend  is  yours  —  my  home  is  yours, 

My  Guide  will  lead  you  there ; 
Behold  one  altogether  fair, 

The  Faithful  and  the  True, 
He  pleadeth  with  you  for  your  love  — 

He  gave  his  life  (or you. 


-WHICH  WAY?  53 

Oh,  leave  the  worthless  things  you  seek, 

They  perish  in  a  day  ; 
Serve  now  the  true  and  living  God, 

From  idols  turn  away ; 
Watch  for  the  Lord,  who  comes  to  reign ; 

Enter  the  open  door  ; 
Give  Him  thy  heart  —  thy  broken  heart  — 

Thou  ?lt  ask  it  back  no  more. 
Trust  Him  for  grace,  and  strength,  and  love, 

And  all  thy  troubles  end : 
Oh,  come  to  Jesus  ;  and  behold 

In  Him  my  loving  Friend. 

To  Believers.  —  None  are  such  but  those 
who  are  born  again,  and  therefore  have  passed 
through  the  strait  gate,  and  already  tread  the 
narrow"  road.  You  have  made  your  choice, 
you  have  received  your  salvation ;  Satan  will 
not  tempt  you  to  cast  away  the  eternal  treas- 
ure already  in  your  grasp,  though  he  may 
seek  to  persuade  you  to  think  you  have.  But 
he  will  tempt  you  to  many  a  doubtful  action, 
which  will  give  him  an  advantage  over  you, 
and  against  God's  cause.  He  will  entice  you 
to  act  without  seeking  counsel  of  the  Lord, 
even  in  matters  that  at  first  sight  may  appear 


51  WHICH  WAY? 

trifling.  But  despise  not  the  day  of  small 
things,  in  which  mighty  results  may  be  at 
stake.  (Joshua  ix.  14;  1  Chron.  x.  14;  Isa. 
xxx.  1,  2.) 

You  have  thrown  in  your  lot  with  the  little 
flock,  "choosing  rather  to  suffer  affliction 
with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season."  Then  you 
have  learned  that  the  heart  is  deceitful  above 
all  things,  and  desperately  wicked,  and  have 
no  confidence  in  the  flesh ;  for  "  there  is 
none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one."  You 
have  been  convicted  of  your  own  utter  sin- 
fulness and  foolishness  and  helplessness,  and 
have  cast  yourselves  on  the  Ransom  paid  for 
you  by  Him  who  put  away  sin  by  the  sacri- 
fice of  Himself.  If  so,  you  know  Him  mighty 
to  save,  whom  to  know  is  to  love,  whom  to 
love  is  to  follow,  and  you  have  tasted  of  the 
heavenly  gift  of  the  good  word  of  God,  and 
the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.  Then  you 
know  why  light  is  given  to  a  man  whose  way 
is  hid,  and  you  can  carry  your  perplexities 
and  your  griefs   to   a   Friend   that  sticketh 


WHICH  WAY?  55 

closer  than  a  brother.  Make  your  plans  in 
His  wisdom,  work  them  out  in  His  strength, 
look  on  them  in  the  light  of  eternit}*,  "  that 
the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be 
glorified  in  you,  and  you  in  Him." 

You  may  often  stand  where  two  ways 
meet,  and,  perplexed  and  weary,  ask  sadly, 
"Which  way?" 

"  It  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to  direct  his 
steps  ;  "  therefore  remember  two  things :  "  In 
all  thy  ways  acknowledge  God,  and  He  shall 
direct  thy  paths."  Never  come  to  any  de- 
cision before  you  have  sought  counsel  of  the 
Lord  in  prayer.  But  if  indeed  you  have 
chosen  your  path  to  your  sorrow,  hasten  to 
your  only  sure  Refuge ;  beg  Him  to  lead  you 
back,  and  though  He  may  seem  to  leave  you  a 
while  to  yourself,  He  will  never  forsake  you, 
but  teach  you,  even  by  your  sorrowful  mis- 
take, some  truth  which  you  have  never  before 
experimentally  received. 

"  Lean  not  to  your  own  understanding," 
but  be  content  in  following  the  path  of  duty 
when  it  is  plainly  marked  out  for  you,  how- 


56  WHICH  WAY? 

ever  unattractive  it  may  appear,  and  consider 
it  a  voice  from  heaven  to  declare  the  will  of 
God  concerning  you ;  being  sure  of  this,  that 
if  the  Lord  has  a  service  for  you  to  perform, 
it  is  in  the  direct  way  of  duty  that  you  will 
meet  with  it.  Then,  indeed,  you  can  "  trust 
in  the  Lord  with  all  your  heart,"  and  can 
commit  all  results  to  His  infinite  wisdom, 
power,  and  love.  But  this  it  is  impossible  to 
do,  when  we  are  uncertain  whether  we  are 
following  His  will  or  our  own.  "Behold, 
what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  be- 
stowed upon  us,  that  we  should  be  called  the 
sons  of  God." 

.  Amazing  love !  The  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth  permits  us  also  to  be  messengers  of  His 
grace  and  mercy,  meeting  our  feeble  efforts 
to  apprehend  Him,  forgiving  our  unfaithful- 
ness and  unbelief.  "  This  is  the  confidence 
that  we  have  in  Him,  that,  if  we  ask  any- 
thing according  to  His  will,  He  heareth  us; 
and  if  we  know  that  He  hear  us,  whatsoever 
we  ask,  we  know  that  we  have  the  petitions 
that  we  desired  of  Him." 


wiuch  way?  57 

Dear  brother!  dear  sister!  are  there  not 
souls  near  you  every  day  for  whom  no  man 
eareth,  not  only  in  the  highways  and  hedges 
and  lanes  and  dreary  courts,  but  in  the  man- 
sions of  the  rich  and  noble  —  in  the  houses 
that  have  never  felt  poverty,  but  where  sin 
and  ignorance  abound?  Some  sorrowful  heart 
you  think  will  scorn  you,  standeth  without, 
weeping.  "  Oh,  fetch  them  in,  and  tell  them 
of  Jesus!''  Are  there  none  whose  homes 
death  hath  laid  desolate,  whose  hearts  are 
smitten  and  withered  like  grass,  for  their 
idols  have  perished  ?  Oh,  let  them  not  weep 
by  the  wayside,  while  you  go  on  your  way 
rejoicing !  Declare  unto  them  the  love  of 
Him  who  speaketh  by  the  rod,  and  the  ful- 
ness of  His  consolations  for  them  that  hear 
it.  Oh,  win  them  to  desire  jouv  fair  inher- 
itance !  Have  pity  on  the  mourner  who 
knows  not  God,  who  sits  in  darkness  and  has 
no  light,  who  mourns  and  has  no  hope.  Be 
tender,  be  patient,  for  he  is  your  neighbor; 
be  pitiful,  he  may  be  your  brother.  Fetch 
them  in,  and  tell  them  of  Jesus." 


58  WHICH  WAY? 

Are  there  none  "without,"  who  walk  in 
the  path  of  darkness  and  death,  in  the  way 
that  you  once  trod,  over  whom  your  heart 
bleeds,  whose  sorrows  you  share  still,  stand- 
ing side  by  side  with  you,  and  yet  how  far 
separated?  "Ah !  "  you  say,  " to  speak  there 
is  hard." 

The  Lord  is  the  God  of  all  flesh ;  is  any- 
thing too  hard  for  Him?  In  the  spiritual 
arms  of  faith  God  has  given  you  for  His 
glory,  "fetch  them  in,"  and  your  own  faithful 
walk  and  conversation  shall  "  tell  them  of 
Jesus." 

You  have  tasted  how  good  and  gracious  is 
the  Lord !  There  are  broken  hearts,  found 
only  for  the  seeking,  and  there  are  anxious, 
trembling  souls  desiring  to  find  Him  whom 
thy  soul  loveth.  Tell  them  of  the  easy  yoke 
and  the  light  burden  of  which  they  are 
afraid.  Point  them  to  the  blood-stained  ran- 
som, even  the  Lamb  of  God  that  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world  ! 

Go  forth  in  His  strength  who  is  with  you 
to  deliver  you  from  them  that  rise  up  against 


WHICH  WAY?  59 

you ;  He  has  said,  "  My  people  shall  never 
be  ashamed."  Rejoice,  then,  whenever  and 
in  whatever  manner  He  may  make  you  a 
minister  of  His  love  and  mercy.  "  Fear  not  ,* 
for  they  that  be  with  us  are  more  than  they 
that  be  with  them." 

Let  a  little  child  lead  you.  Let  her  dying 
message  whisper  to  some  that  sit  at  ease  in 
Zion,  careless  that  others'  souls  partake  not 
of  the  free  grace  bestowed  on  them. 

"  Fetch  them  in,  and  tell  them  of  Je- 
sus—  TELL  THEM  OF  JESUS." 


THE    CHILD'S    MESSAGE. 

•  THE  SPIRIT  AND  THE  BRIDE  SAY,  COME.  AND  LET  HIM  THAT  HEAR* 
ETH  SAY,  COME  AND  WHOSOEVER  WILL,  LET  HIM  TAKE  THE  WA 
TKR   OF   LIFE   FREELY."  —  Rev.  Xxii.  17. 

"  Call  them  in,"  the  poor,  the  wretched, 
Sin-stained  wanderers  from  the  fold; 

Peace  and  pardon  freely  offer  ; 

Can  you  weigh  their  worth  with  gold? 

"  Call  them  in,"  the  weak,  the  weary, 
Laden  with  the  doom  of  sin ; 


60  WHICH  WAY? 

Bid  them  come  and  rest  with  Jesus, 
He  is  waiting :  "  Call  them  in  " 

"  Call  them  in,"  the  Jew,  the  Gentile, 

Bid  the  stranger  to  the  feast ; 
"Call  them  in,"  the  rich  and  noble, 

From  the  highest  to  the  least. 
Forth  the  Father  runs  to  meet  them, 

He  hath  all  their  sorrows  seen ; 
Robe,  and  ring,  and  royal  sandal 

Wait  the  lost  ones  :  "  Call  them  in." 

"  Call  them  in,"  the  broken-hearted, 

Cowering  'neath  the  brand  of  shame  ; 
Speak  love's  message,  low  and  tender, 

"'Tivasfor  sinners  Jesus  came." 
See  !  the  shadows  lengthen  round  us, 

Soon  the  day-dawn  will  begin  ; 
Can  you  leave  them  lost  and  lonely  ? 

Christ  is  coming  :  "  Call  them  in." 

"  Call  them  in,"  the  little  children, 

Tarrying  far  away  —  away  ; 
Wait,  O,  wait  not  for  to-morrow, 

Christ  would  have  them  come  to-day ! 
Follow  on  !  the  Lamb  is  leading ! 

He  has  conquered  —  we  shall  win ; 
Bring  the  halt  and  blind  to  Jesus  ; 

He  will  heal  them :  "  Call  them  in." 


WHICH  WAY?  61 

"Call  them  in,"  and  swell  the  chorus 

Of  the  angels'  song  above  ; 
Hark !  they  sing  a  Saviour's  glory, 

And  a  Father's  changeless  love. 
O'er  salvation's  sealed  ones  watching, 

Though  a  veil  doth  float  between; 
Holy  Spirit,  by  Thy  power, 

Call,  oh,  call  the  wanderers  in  ! 

"  Call  them  in,"  the  Master  waiteth  ; 

Save  them  from  the  snares  of  hell ; 
Rest  ye  'neath  the  blood-stained  lintel  ? 

Of  the  grace  that  seeks  them,  tell. 
Hark  !  upon  the  crowded  highway, 

And  amid  the  city's  din, 
Sounds  a  Child's  voice,  sweet  and  solemn  — 

"  O,  BE  SURE  AND  CALL  THEM  IN  !  " 


GOD  IS  AS  GOOD  AS  HIS  WORD." 


A   BRIEF   MEMORIAL 


OF 


A   RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY. 


— X>»yH>3€SK — 


•  The  word  of  the  Lord  endnreth  forever.  And  this 
is  the  word  which  by  the  gospel  is  preached  u?ito 
you'''  —  I  Peter  i.  25. 

"  /  have  declared  thy  faithfulness  and  thy  salvation." 
Psalm  xl.  10. 


C» 


years   since, 


H- 


was 


known  as  the  most  unruly  and  out- 
rageous character  frequenting  Spicer  Street 
Ragged-School.  His  only  aim  appeared  to 
be  (as  in  another  school  he  had  frequented) 
to  disturb  the  boys,  and  endeavor  to  make 
them  as  rebellious  as  himself.     His  employ- 

63 


61  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

ment  was  generally  a  system  of  annoyances, 
such  as  turning  off  the  gas,  destroying  the 
forms  and  tables,  upsetting  the  ink,  and  reso- 
lutely fighting  with  every  boy  he  could  pro- 
voke to  quarrel  with  him  as  soon  as  they 
quitted  the  room. 

He  was  often  threatened  with  dismissal, 
and  as  often  he  promised  reformation  ;  yet 
when  he  appeared  most  hopeless,  he  had  be- 
gun to  amend.     The  master  one  day  pointed 

out  a  seat  by  his  own  side,  and  asked  H 

if  he  would  make  it  his  place,  and  become 
his  boy.  Pleased,  perhaps,  by  the  distinction, 
it  was  immediately  taken  ;  but,  for  a  time, 
little  improvement  was  observable.  By  de- 
grees he  became  more  attentive,  and  drawn 
by  the  love  he  cherished  towards  his  teacher 
(though  at  the  same  time  unexpressed),  he 
attended  the  school  regularly. 

Slowly,  very  slowly,  the  change  came  over 
him ;  no  one  could  clearly  say  when  it  first 
began,  or  point  to  the  hand  whence  the  seed 
was  permitted  to  be  scattered. 

"  The  entrance  of  Thy  words  giveth  light ; " 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  65 

•*  The  wind  bloweth  where  it  listeth,  and  thou 
hearest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell 
whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it  goeth :  so 
is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit." 

He  told  the  master  he  only  went  to  the 
school  the  €rst  time  "  for  a  lark,"  and  knew 
not  why  he  went  again. 

A*,  that  great  day,  when  the  secrets  of  all 
hearts  are  laid  open,  it  will  be  seen.  Per- 
haps some  word  of  kindness,  a  smile,  the 
silent  forbearance  of  a  teacher,  the  prayer 
that  arose  amid  the  toil  and  tumult  of  life  for 
souls  to  be  granted  to  those  who  were  labor- 
ing in  this  little  corner  of  the  vineyard,  may 
have  been  among  the  instruments  used  by  the 
Lord  for  bringing  the  first  message  of  mercy 
to  the  reckless  boy,  that  led  him  to  the  feet 
of  Jesus. 

The  Word  became  a  lamp  to  his  feet,  and 
a  light  to  his  path  ;  the  Holy  Spirit  was  shed 
abroad  in  his  heart.  It  was  his  delight  to 
testify  to  the  faithfulness  of  a  covenant-keep- 
ing God,  who  had  called  him  from  darkness 
into  light,  and  enabled  him  to  confess  that 


66  A   BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

Savioui  before  men,  who  has  promised  to  con- 
fess His  servants  so  doing:  before  the  angels 
of  God,  "  when  He  shall  come  to  be  glorified 
in  His  saints,  and  to  be  admired  in  all  them 
that  believe  in  that  day."    (2  Thess.  i.  10.) 

Of  II 's  earliest  years  little  is  known  ; 

they  were  passed  in  the  dark  courts  and  alleys 
of  Bethnal  Green,  amid  scenes  of  vice  and 
depravity.  He  might  have  seemed  unloved 
and  uncared  for ;  but  there  was  One  who 
loved  and  cared  for  him,  even  Jesus,  "  who 
has  compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and  them 
that  are  out  of  the  way."  The  Eye  of  Love 
was  on  the  ragged  boy  as  he  wandered,  none 
else  knew  where,  over  the  wide  metropolis, 
following  him,  watching  him,  yearning  over 
him  —  an  heir  of  glory,  and  joint-heir  with 
Christ. 

Perhaps  H had  never  heard  that  the 

Son  of  God  had  died  for  him,  that  he  might 
live ;  may  be,  no  kind  friend  had  told  him  of 
a  Saviour  who  could  make  him  holy  and 
happy  forever ;  that  there  was  a  white  robe 
for  him,  even  for  him,  the  poor  ragged  boy,  a 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  67 

place  for  him  among  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  Lord  Almighty.  Or  if  he  heard,  he 
did  not  believe  it;  for  those  who  believe 
with  the  heart  obey,  and  those  who  love 
serve.  When  Jesus  has  the  heart,  He  has 
the  will,  and  the  feet  follow.  All  are  poor 
and  wretched  and  ragged  without  the  right- 
eousness of  Christ. 

Soon   after  the   saving   change   had  taken 

place  in  H he  fell  ill,  and  was  sent  to  one 

of  the  hospitals.  After  some  weeks  of  suf- 
fering he  was  dismissed,  and  was  soon  seen 
again  at  the  school ;  the  privileges  of  which 
he  had  been  deprived  for  a  time  became  more 
valued  than  ever  by  him ;  and  though  up  to 
this  period  he  was  reserved  in  speaking  of  his 
own  feelings,  yet,  towards  those  who  had 
shown  their  love  in  leading  him  to  the  Sav- 
iour, he  cherished  an  affection  almost  amount- 
ing to  a  passion,  which  silently  deepened  day 
by  day,  even  to  his  last  hour  on  earth.  The 
rugged  obstinacy  of  his  character,  under  the 
influence  of  the  Spirit,  became  firmness  in 
holding  fast  that  which  he  had  found  true  ; 


C)8  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

and  his  recklessness  gave  way  to  geneious 
and  unselfish  consideration  for  others.  He 
seldom  complained,  bearing  much  pain  with 
the  meekness  and  patience  which  his  natural 
character  had  never  exhibited.  He  became 
weaker  and  more  ailing ;  and  it  was  evident 
he  was  far  gone  in  consumption.  He  was 
seldom  absent  from  his  haunts,  nor  was  his 
place  vacant  until  he  became  from  weakness 
incapable  of  reaching  the  school;  loving  to 
teach  where  be  had  learned  the  way  of  salva- 
tion, and  pressing  on  others  the  faithfulness 
and  love  of  Jesus  with  the  force  and  original 
argument  characteristic  of  his  class. 

In  all  matters  of  a  worldly  nature  he  ap- 
peared most  uncouth  and  ignorant;  but  in  all 
belonging  to  the  things  of  the  Kingdom,  he 
possessed  a  peculiar  acuteness.  It  might  be 
said  of  him,  "  The  ear  trieth  words,  as  the 
mouth  tasteth  meat."  Every  new  view  of 
the  Covenant  of  Grace,  every  type  of  the 
Atonement  as  exhibited  in  the  Word,  filled 
him  with  joy ;  if  it  were  brought  to  him  b\ 
another,  he  invariably  insisted  on  his  proving 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  69 

it,  saying,  "How  got  you  that  idea?  —  cap- 
ital !  "  "Where  did  you  get  it?  —  precious!" 
He  had  a  voice  of  singular  melody,  and  a 
refined  taste  for  music,  though  entirely  un- 
cultivated ;  he  could  not  bear  any  discordant 
tone  or  incorrect  time.  He  was  well  known 
in  the  open-air  services  in  the  neighborhood 
as  leading  the  hymn,  his  clear  tones  ringing 
above  the  rest  in  every  song  of  praise  ;  some- 
times poured  out  in  supplication  for  the  peo- 
ple, and  not  unfrequently  in  reading  from  the 
Word.  He  attached  himself  much  to  one  of 
the  missionaries  of  the  P — : —  district,  whom 
he  loved  to  accompany  from  street  to  alley, 
from  field  to  court,  rapidly  gathering  a  crowd 
of  listeners  about  them,  won  in  the  first  place 
by  the  sweet  and  powerful  voice  of  the  boy. 
One  of  the  missionaries  observed,  "  We  no 
longer  hear  him  in  our  week-day  services 
and  the  Lord's-day  meetings,  but  I  hear  him 
mentally  joining  with  us.  He  lies  deep  in 
our  memory  and  affection,  and  as  I  miss  him 
from  my  side,  I  have  to  repeat,  '  God's  wayg 
are  not  our  ways.'  n 


70  A  BEIEF  MEMORIAL  OP 

Many  a  wild  companion  will  remember  the 
warning  voice  of  this  young  disciple,  whose 
short  hour  of  service  was  neither  barren  nor 
unfruitful.  And  there  are  other  hearts  for 
whom  he  has  not  lived  in  vain,  who  thank- 
fully retain  the  memory  when,  with  patient 
toil,  they  were  permitted  to  sow  in  waste 
places  the  seed  so  early  to  ripen,  and  be  gath- 
ered in  their  sight  into  the  heavenly  garner, 
an  earnest  of  sheaves  to  follow. 

The  first  few  days  in  the  beginning  of  No- 
vember, H was  missed  from  his  accus- 
tomed place.  One  morning  his  father  came 
to   a   teacher  for  whom   his   son   had   much 

affection,  and  told  him  H was  dying,  and 

wished  to  see  him,  and  unless  he  went  at 
once,  it  was  doubtful  if  he  would  find  him 
alive. 

The  poor  boy,  in  his  eagerness  to  bid  his 
friend  and  teacher  farewell,  entreated  for  a 
restorative  medicine  to  be  given  him  several 
times  during  the  hour  of  his  father's  absence, 
lest  he  should  sink  before  his  arrival.  But 
the  young  witness  of  the  Truth  had  a  testi- 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  71 

mony  to  bear  for  his  Master,  who  sustains 
His  weakest  saint  till  his  work  is  done ;  then, 
and  not  till  then,  will  He  suffer  the  silver 
thread  of  life  to  be  broken,  or  bid  his  waiting 
servant  "  come  up  hither." 

The  teacher  hastened  to  the  spot,  and 
found  his  old  scholar  eagerly  listening  for 
every  footstep  that  passed  in  the  court,  or 
ascended  the  narrow  staircase,  that  he  might 
recognize  the  one  he  longed  for ;  and  at 
length  it  came. 

A  great  alteration  had  already  taken  place 
in  the  poor  lad.  He  was  lying  in  a  low  room, 
lighted  only  by  a,  long,  narrow  window,  for- 
merly adapted  to  the  weaver's  loom.  There 
was  no  bed  upon  the  bedstead  ;  a  board  slant- 
ing from  the  wall,  on  which  his  clothes  were 
rolled,  formed  his  pillow ;  his  covering,  a 
coarse  horse-cloth,  nearly  black.  To  the  out- 
ward e}'e,  that  close,  dim  room  seemed  only 
the  abode  of  penury  and  misery;  it  could  not 
pierce  the  veil  and  see  the  band  of  radiant 
beings  that  waited  on  the  Ragged-school  Boy, 
to  carry  him  into  the  presence  of  the  Saviour 


72  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

he  loved  —  who  loved  him,  and  gave  Himself 
for  him. 

The  gates  of  the  Golden  City  were  opened, 
and  some  gleams  of  the  light  from  within 
seemed  breaking  on  the  soul  so  soon  to  be 
released.  Even  now  he  was  allowed  to  wait 
and  serve ;  for  he  paused  to  give  a  last  ex- 
pression of  his  love  to  those  so  justly  dear  to 
him,  which  fell  as  a  blessing  from  his  dying 
lips,  and  to  spend  his  last  breath  in  testifying 
to  the  truth  and  faithfulness  of  the  everlast- 
ing covenant,  "  I  will  never  leave  thee,  never, 
no,  never  forsake  thee." 

The  teacher  approached  the  bed,  which 
was  surrounded  by  some  of  his  old  compan- 
ions and  the  weeping  master;  he  took  the 
wasted  hand  of  the  boy,  that  groped  as  if  in 
darkness  for  Jiis  own.  From  exhaustion  his 
eyelids  had  fallen,  and  he  had  not  power  to 
raise  them;  but  the  certainty  of  the  quick 
response  to  his  call  seemed  to  give  him  new 
energy  ;  his  face  brightened  as  he  exclaimed : 

"  Well,  this  is  kind  of  you  to  come  and 
see  a  poor  Ragged-school  Boy.    I  could  not 


A   RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  id 

expect  you  to  come.  I  wish  T  could  see  you. 
I  can  hear  and  feel  you ;  I  cannot  see  you : 
but,  thank  God,  you  are  here !  I  have  lost 
one  of  my  senses,  but  I  have  a  sweet  sense 
of  God's  saving  mercy  through  Jesus  Christ." 

His  teacher  inquired  if  he  had  much  suf- 
fering.    He  replied : 

44  My  pains  are  great,  but  the  patience 
granted  me  is  greater.  What  are  my  suffer- 
ings compared  to  my  Saviour's  !  He  sweated 
drops  of  blood  in  Gethsemane's  garden  for 
me  —  poor,  unworthy  me !  I  shall  soon  clap 
my  glad  wings  and  fly  away." 

"Have  you  any  doubts  or  fears  perplex- 
ing you,  dear  H ?  "  inquired  the  school- 
master. 

44 None!"  replied  H— — ,  in  the  decided 
manner  peculiar  to  himself,  4*  none !  they 
were  all  settled  yesterday.  Satan  struggled 
hard  with  me  for  ten  hours,  but  my  Saviour 
was  with  me ;  for  ten  hours  I  pleaded  with 
Him ;  He  heard  me,  He  delivered  me !  I 
knew  when  your  hour  of  prayer  had  arrived  ; 
then  the  great  adversary  departed.     4Whea 


74  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

the  enemy  comes  in  like  a  flood,  the  Lord 
shall  lift  up  a  standard  against  him.'  " 

This  was  in  allusion  to  a  meeting  for 
prayer,  held  by  the  teachers  on  the  Lord's- 
day,  after  evening  school,  when  the  dying  lad 
had  been  especially  remembered.  At  this 
season  "  the  devil  left  him,  and  angels  came 
and  ministered  to  him."  The  young  soldier 
of  the  cross  triumphed  in  the  victory  already 
won  for  him  in  Gethsemane,  and  while  he 
waved  the  palm  that  will  mark  the  great 
multitude  that  no  man  can  number,  he  tasted 
of  that  peace  purchased  by  the  blood  of  Je- 
sus for  all  that  shall  believe  on  Him  —  a 
peace  never  more  to  be  troubled,  but  flowing 
on  into  streams  of  joy  that  make  glad  the 
city  of  our  God. 

"  Now,  then,  you  have  the  promised  rest, 
which  Jesus  offers  to  all  who  go  to  Him," 
said  a  friend  ;  "  the  peace  of  God." 

"  I  cannot  describe  to  you  what  it  is,"  re- 
plied H .  " Peace!  —  I  would,  but  I  can- 
not tell  you.  Peace! — it  is  heaven!  The 
apostle  might  well  say,  It  passeth  all  under* 


A  RAGGED   SCHOOL-BOY.  75 

standing  !  I  wish  every  doubting  soul  could 
hear  me  this  day  !     I  would  tell  them  : 

'GOD   IS  AS  GOOD  AS   HIS   WOBD.' 

•  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace,  whose 
mind  is  stayed  on  thee  :  because  he  trustetL 
in  thee.'  " 

At  this  time  the  desire  of  his  heart  was 
granted  him,  and  he  was  enabled  to  look  once 
more  on  the  face  of  the  teacher  he  had  anx- 
iously longed  to  see. 

The  parting  blessing  conveyed  in  that  fare- 
well will  not  easily  be  forgotten :  a  long, 
earnest  gaze  —  and  then  the  dark  eyes  closed 
again,  while  a  smile  of  sweet  satisfaction  spread 
over  his  face,  as  he  said  : 

"  I  have  nothing  more  to  wish  for  now  for 

myself;  I  have  seen  dear ,  and  I  am  ready 

to  depart.  When  I  see  you  again  in  glory, 
I  will  give  you  a  joyful  welcome." 

His  anxiety  for  the  souls  of  others  deepened 
in  intensity  as  the  time  of  his  departure  drew 
near,  and  for  five  hours  he  pleaded,  in  voice 
and  words  most  solemn  and  tender,  with  a 


76  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

brother,  to  persuade  him  to  attend  the  school, 
and  seek  that  Saviour  whose  faithfulness  ha 
was  himself  triumphantly  proving. 

His    brother    refused    to    pledge    himself. 

After   this,  H would   not   suffer   him  to 

approach  him.  But  who  shall  say  that  the 
prayers  and  burning  words  of  life  have  been 
uttered  in  vain,  though  they  seemed  to  fall 
on  careless  ears  ?  and  like  the  son  who  made 
answer  "  I  will  not,"  yet  may  it  be  said, 
"Afterward  he  repented  and  went." 

Another  member  of  his  family,  of  whom  he 
took  leave,  he  warned,  saying : 

"  You  have  a  Bible  in  your  house ;  read  it — 
read  it,  pray  over  it,  and  meet  me  in  heaven." 

As  some  of  his  old  schoolmates  gathered 
round  him,  he  inquired  of  them  separately 
one  by  one : 

"  Will  you  follow  me  to  glory?  —  will  you? 
—  will  you?  " 

Some  replied  that  they  would  seek  to  do  so, 
others  held  down  their  heads,  and  would  not 
reply:  to  them  he  spoke  in  a  severe  tone, 
saying : 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  T 

"  Well,  if  you  do  not  care  to  go  to  heaven, 
you  will  surely  go  to  hell !  " 

On  being  asked  if  he  had  any  message  to 
those  whom  he  had  not  seen  in  his  last  illness, 
he  said  : 

14  Yes;  tell  everybody  I  am  going  to  heaven. 
Tell  the  boys  that  Jesus  is  very  precious  to 
my  soul,  very  near,  very  dear  to  me  now;  just 
such  a  Saviour  as  I  need  !  His  rod  and  His 
staff  they  comfort  me  !  I  wish  I  had  all  the 
young  people  in  London  here  ;  I  would  say  to 
them,  'Pray  without  ceasing.'  If  I  had  put 
off  seeking  to  know  the  Lord  until  now,  I 
could  not  have  given  my  mind  to  it.  I  wish 
all  the  boys  were  here  to  see  how  a  Ragged- 
school  Boy  can  die." 

He  seemed  to  delight  in  the  term  "Ragged- 
school  Boy,"  as  if  he  would  magnify  the  grace 
that  found  him.  Jesus  had  loved  him,  died 
for  him,  called  him,  taught  him,  and  now  com- 
forted him  with  His  presence  ;  and  it  was  the 
joy  of  this  young  servant  to  witness  to  the 
truth  of  each  promise  of  redeeming  love,  that 
"God  is  as  good  as  His  word." 


73  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 


«  TT 


Filled  with  delight,  my  raptured  soul 

Would  here  no  longer  stay ; 
Though  Jordan's  waves  around  me  roll, 

Fearless  I'd  launch  away." 

"  My  Jesus  has  done  all  things  well! — that 
is  the  strong  plank  to  carry  me  over.  Re- 
demption !  —  no  fear  of  that  breaking,  and 
leaving  me  in  the  middle  to  sink  at  last !  " 
This  he  said  alluding  to  the  Jordan. 

Then  turning  to  the  weeping  master,  who 
with  his  wife  tenderly  watched  over  his  last 
hours,  he  said  : 

"  You,  dear  S ,  I  do  love  you  !     I  could 

not  tell  you  this  before  ;  I  can  now  I  am  go- 
ing—  I  must.  When  I  see  you  arrive  in  glory, 
I  will  make  heaven's  vault  ring  !  " 

Has  not  that  death-chamber  a  voice  still  to 
that  little  band  of  laborers  who  recall  the 
dreary  season,  when  their  hearts  were  dis- 
couraged and  their  hopes  low,  and  a  shadow 
seemed  to  have  fallen  on  their  work,  as  they 
taxed  their  insufficiency  and  their  unworthi- 
ness,  in  that  they  had  not  prospered  as  they 
desired  ?     Yet  the  Lord  whom  they  served 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  79 

was  not  unmindful  of  them.  He  was  stand- 
ing with  outstretched  hand  ready  to  bless, 
opening  wide  the  treasure-house  of  His  love, 
whilst  the  loudest  chiding  that  came  from  the 
God-man  was,  as  to  His  disciples  of  old,  "  JJHiy 
are  ye  so  fearful  ?  How  is  it  that  ye  have  no 
faith  ?  "  Now,  "  Be  ye  strong  therefore,  and 
let  not  your  hands  be  weak  :  for  your  work 
shall  be  rewarded."  Looking  "not  at  the 
things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  not  seen :  for  the  things  which 
are  seen  are  temporal ;  but  the  things  which 
are  not  seen  are  eternal."  "  Be  strong,  and 
of  good  courage;  dread  not,-nor  be  dismayed." 
44  For  as  the  rain  cometh  down,  and  the  snow 
from  heaven,  and  returneth  not  thither,  but 
watereth  the  earth,  and  maketh  it  bring  forth 
and  bud,  that  it  may  give  seed  to  the  sower, 
and  bread  to  the  eater :  so  shall  My  word  be 
that  goeth  forth  out  of  My  mouth  :  it  shall 
not  return  unto  Me  void,  but  it  shall  accom- 
plish that  which  I  please,  and  it  shall  prosper 
in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it." 

"When  he   could   not   speak,   for  pain   and 


80  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OP 

weariness,  he  made  signs  for  a  hymn  to  be 
sung  ;  and  strove,  as  on  the  eve  of  departure, 
to  join  in  the  following  lines  : 

"  Not  the  labor  of  my  hands 
Can  fulfil  Thy  law's  demands ; 
Could  my  zeal  no  respite  know, 
Could  my  tears  forever  flow, 
All  for  sin  could  not  atone ; 
Thou  must  save,  and  Thou  alone, 

"  Nothing  in  my  hand  I  bring ; 
Simply  to  Thy  cross  I  cling! 
Naked,  come  to  Thee  for  dress  ; 
Helpless,  look  to  Thee  for  grace ; 
Foul,  I  to  the  fountain  fly, 
Wash  me,  Saviour,  or  I  die. 

"While  I  draw  this  fleeting  breath, 
When  mine  eyes  shall  close  in  death, 
When  I  soar  to  worlds  unknown, 
See  Thee  on  Thy  judgment  throne ; 
Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee." 

One  present  expressed  a  wish  to  unite  in 
prayer  with  him,  but,  to  his  surprise,  H 
declined,  saying : 


A  BAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  81 

"  I  have  done  with  prayer.  All  is  turned 
into  praise  with  me  !  " 

The  schoolmaster  and  his  wife  watched  by 
him  until  the  dawn,  when  they  went  to  rest. 
As  the  night  wore  on,  the  dying  boy  lay  calm 
and  still,  resting  on  the  promises  of  the  "Faith- 
ful and  True."  His  breathing  became  shorter, 
and  his  speech  less  articulate;  but  the  blissful 
peace  was  unruffled,  and  the  broken  words 
were  all  words  of  praise.  Early  in  the  morn- 
ing one  of  the  teachers  went  to  see  him  ;  he 
was  quite  conscious,  and  recognized  the  friend 
who  moistened  his  parched  lips,  and  spoke 
some  cheering  words ;  to  all  of  which  he 
responded,  "  Praise  God  !  " 

Soon  after  this  the  master's  wife  returned 

to  her  watch  by  the  happy  boy ;  H roused 

himself  to  welcome  her,  saying  : 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  are  come  !  " 

"  Shall  I  send  for  S ?  "  (her  husband) 

she  asked. 

"  No  !  "  replied  H .     u  I  only  wish  you 

to  be  here  when  I  go.     Do  you  think  it  will 
be  very  long  before  I  am  with  Jesus  ?  " 
6 


82  A  BEIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

"  No,  dear,"  replied  his  kind  friend ;  and 
she  raised  the  fainting  head,  and  supported  it 
on  her  shoulder. 

"  Then  kiss  me.     Good-bye." 

The  words  had  hardly  fallen  from  his  lips 
when  an  expression  of  intense  joy  kindled  in 
his  face,  his  eyes  beamed  with  rapture,  and 
his  eager  hand  pointed  to  the  glory  on  which 
he  was  entering ;  he  uttered  an  exclamation 
of  delight :  "  Light !  —  Home  !  —  Light !  " 
-*  These  were  the  only  words  that  could  be 
distinguished,  as,  sinking  back  in  the  tender 
arms  that  held  him,  the  Ragged-school  Boy 
exchanged  his  miserable  abode  on  earth  for  a 
light  that  can  never  wax  dim,  to  wait  with 
Jesus  till  He  comes  to  reign ;  and  swell  the 
glad  song,  "  Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood, 
and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God 
and  His  Father  ;  to  Him  be  glory  and  domin- 
ion forever  and  ever.  Amen.  Behold  He 
cometh  with  clouds  ;  and  every  eye  shall  see 
Him,  and  they  also  which  pierced  Him  ;  and 
all  kindreds  of  the  earth  shall  wail  because  of 
Him.     Even  so,  Amen." 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  83 

Many  a  weeping  companion  visited  that 
little  chamber  to  look  upon  the  empty  taber- 
nacle of  him  who  had  been  both  a  scholar  and 
a  teacher.  The  ray  of  rapturous  joy  the  Spirit 
had  shed  upon  the  lifeless  face  of  the  Ragged- 
school  Boy,  on  its  passage  to  its  eternal  rest, 
remained  like  a  seal  of  his  happiness  to  the 
last.  The  tongue  that  had  but  faltered  forth 
praise  in  broken  accents,  was  now  unloosed  in 
joyful  exultation  beyond  the  river,  telling 
with  saints  and  angels,  and  the  spirits  of  just 
men  made  perfect,  of  the  faithfulness  of  Him 
who  is  the  same  3Testerday,  and  to-day,  and 
forever.  He  was  basking  in  a  glory  which 
the  heart  of  man  cannot  conceive,  for  he  was 
with  Jesus.     Is  it  not  written  : 

"  If  any  man  serve  Me,  let  him  follow  Me ; 
and  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  My  servant 
be.  If  any  man  serve  Me,  him  will  My  Fa- 
ther honor  "  ? 

We  know  that  it  is  so,  and  u  the  Lord  hath 
done  all  that  He  hath  spoken." 

"GOD  IS  AS  GOOD  AS  HIS   WORD." 


84  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 


THE   RAGGED   BOY'S   HOME. 

'the  lord  shall  be  unto  thee  an  everlasting  LIGHT,  AND  THt 

GOD   THY   GLORY.''  —  Isaiaklx..  19. 

"  Home  !  Light !  Home  !  "  The  light  of  a  cloudless  day ; 
It  breaks  o'er  the  City  whose  builder  is  God,  and  never 

shall  fade  away. 
No  sun,  nor  moon,  nor  stars  o'er  the  mansions  of  rest 

may  reign ; 
For  the  Lamb  is  the  Light  of  that  golden  land,  the 

Light  is  the  Lamb  once  slain. 

"  Light !    Light !    Home  !  "    with  the  Friend  that  can 

never  change, 
In  the  boundless  stores  of  a  Saviour's  love,  unfettered 

and  free  to  range. 
He  waits  with  Him  there  on  high,  who  watched  for 

Him  here  before  ; 
And  the  song  of  praise  on  the  ragged  boy's  lip  shah 

falter  in  death  no  more. 

"  Home  !  Light !  Home  !  "  A  home  'mid  the  ran- 
somed band ; 

Drinking  of  fountains  that  never  fail,  led  by  a  Saviour's 
hand. 

Never  to  hunger  or  thirst,  never  to  faint  or  fear ; 

Only  to  live  in  the  light  of  the  smile  that  guided  his 
footsteps  here. 


A  KAGGED-SCUOOL  BOY.  85 

*  Light !  Home  !    Light !  "     The   combat   on   earth  is 

done  ; 
The  laborer  worked  out  his  little  hour,  and  home  to  his 

rest  is  gone. 
A  robe  like  the  driven  snow,  a  face  in  the  glory  fair ! 
O,  who  would  not  follow  the  freed  young  soul,  that 

basks  in  the  brightness  there  ! 

"  Home  !    Home  !    Light !  "     Light  in  the  shadow  of 

death  ; 
Light  in  the  soul  from  the  Light  of  the  world,  light  on 

the  path  beneath. 
A  light  that  for  sinners  shall  shine,  as  he  shouts  in  his 

triumph  —  "  Come  !  " 
He   tells   of  the   Light  of  the  Lamb  once  slain,  and 

points  to  the  ragged  boy's  home. 

"  Light !  Lord  !  Light !  "     Thou  callest  alone  to  bless  ! 
O,  shed  on  the  spirits  held  captive  by  sin  the  Sun  of 

Thy  righteousness. 
O,  light  for  our  waiting  souls   some  gleams   of  Thy 

glory  to  see, 
And  give  us  to  trust  in  the  Faithful  and  True,  for  our 

strength  and  our  rest  are  with  Thee ! 

u  Home  !  Light !  Home  ! "     Do  you  look  to  a  Father's 

home  ? 
Do  you  point  to  the  light  that  has  gladdened  your  path, 

and  cry  to  the  wanderer,  "  Come  "  ? 


86  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 


Do  you  dwell  on  a  Saviour's  truth  ?     Do  you  yeara 

o'er  the  blind  man's  night  ? 
Go,  seek  ye  the  souls  that  are  sinking  in  death,  and 

tell  them  of  Home  and  Light ! 


My  dear  reader,  have  you  ever  asked  your- 
self whose  you  are  and  whom  you  serve? 
Are  you  journeying  to  the  many  mansions  of 
a  Father's  house,  to  dwell  in  the  light  and 
glory  of  the  Godhead  for  ever?  Do  you 
know  Jesus  ?  do  you  love  Him  ?  do  you  fol- 
low Him  ?  Then  the  ragged  boy's  home  will 
be  yours. 

Have  you  heard  of  that  city  whose  Maker 
and  Builder  is  God?  Have  you  dwelt  with 
delight  on  its  fair  foundations,  its  golden 
streets,  clear  as  glass,  and  gates  of  peerless 
pearl?  Have  you  loved  to  think  the  inhab- 
itants of  that  home  never  hunger  nor  thirst, 
that  there  is  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow 
nor  crying,  for  all  tears  are  wiped  away  ? 

Have  you  ever  thought  it  would  be  good  to 
be  there  ?  When  hard  words,  or  hard  work, 
or  hard  fare,  make  you  long  for  something 
better   than  you  can   get   here,  though   you 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  87 

hardly  know  what  it  is,  do  you  think  of  that 
glorious  home  which  the  Lord  keeps  for  them 
that  love  Him,  and  say,  "  I  wish  I  were  sure 
of  going  there  "  ? 

But  perhaps  you  are  looking  at  your  rags, 
and  shoeless  feet,  your  long  rejection  of 
mercy,  and  your  many  sins,  and  you  say : 

"I  am  not  fit!" 

No ;  you  are  not  fit  in  your  old  garments  ; 
but  Christ  can  make  you  fit.  He  has  a  white 
robe  for  you,  whoever  you  are,  if  you  only 
believe  in  Him  ;  a  palm  of  victory  for  you,  if 
you  only  grasp  it ;  a  crown  of  glory,  if  you 
press  on  to  wear  it.     You  say  : 

"  How  am  I  to  win  it  ?  " 

Oh,  sinner,  the  victory  is  won  for  you! 
Only  believe !  take  up  the  palm  at  once ! 
Come,  for  all  tilings  are  ready.  For  your 
sins  Christ  offers  His  perfect  righteousness; 
for  your  care  and  sorrow,  His  peace  ;  for  your 
poverty,  His  riches.  He  will  adopt  you  into 
His  family  on  earth  ;  as  an  elder  brother,  He 
offers  you  His  friendship  and  His  love,  and 
secures  you  a  welcome  in  His  Father's  house. 


88  A  BEIEF  MEMOEIAL  OP 

Will  you  come  ?  Do  you  think,  because 
you  are  poor  and  ignorant,  therefore  Jesus 
takes  no  heed  of  you  ?  I  tell  you  He  does. 
He  loves  you !  He  died  for  you,  whoever 
you  are.  The  Son  of  God,  though  rich,  yet 
for  your  sake  He  became  poor,  that  ye, 
through  His  poverty,  might  be  rich.  He  has 
left  especial  blessing  for  you;  for  "yours  is 
the  kingdom  of  heaven."  Are  you  ignorant? 
"  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  bes-inning  of 
wisdom."  He  calls  you  ;  to  teach  you,  He 
says,  "Learn  of  Me."  The  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge  are  hid  in  Him. 

Are  you  sorrowful?  He  comforteth  those 
that  are  cast  down ;  as  one  whom  his  mother 
comforteth,  so  will  He  comfort  you.  And  if 
the  memory  of  your  sinful  life  keeps  you 
back,  He  hath  said  He  will  remember  your 
iniquity  no  more. 

It  is  not  a  severe  judge  I  ask  you  to  meet; 
it  is  the  Saviour,  a  dear,  unchanging,  and 
most  preciou?  Friend !  He  has  said,  "  I  will 
never  leave  you,  never,  never  forsake  you." 
Will  you  come  ?     If  you  need  light,  He  will 


A  RAGGED-SCnOOL  BOY.  89 

give  you  light.  Is  it  peace?  He  will  give 
you  His  peace,  which  the  world  can  never 
take  away. 

Do  you  believe  ?  It  is  easy  to  say  you  be- 
lieve. If  you  believe  in  Jesus,  then  you  love 
Him,  you  obey  Him,  you  serve  Him,  follow 
Him,  and  you  know  that  u  all  things  are 
yours,  and  you  are  Christ's,  and  Christ  is 
God's ;  "  for  God  is  as  good  as  His  word. 

Do  not  misunderstand  me,  you  who  are  yet 
in  your  sins ;  the  promises  given  to  God's 
children  3-ou  have  no  part  in  ;  into  that  city 
of  the  Great  King  "entereth  nothing  that 
defileth,"  nothing  unholy,  nay,  not  the  fear- 
ful, for  all  there  trust  in  Him  who,-  by  His 
grace,  brought  them  there.  You  cannot  take 
your  sins  with  you  —  your  carnal  pleasures 
and  evil  imaginations.  If  you  love  these 
things  better  than  holiness  and  heaven,  better 
than  Jesus,  then  there  is  indeed  a  message  for 
you,  not  of  peace,  but  of  judgment.  When 
the  Lord  Jesus  shall  appear,  those  who  love 
Him  will  be  like  Him  ;  they  will  have  been 
changed  from  glory  to  glory,  and,  perfected 


90  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

in  His  likeness,  will  gather  round  the  Lord 
for  whom  they  have  waited.  But  you,  who 
love  your  own  ways  and  your  own  sins  better 
than  Him,  in  what  bodies  will  you  come7 

Even  the  Word  of  God  is  silent  here. 
What  a  mournful  silence !  Words  cannot 
add  anything  to  it. 

There  is  a  place,  but  it  is  prepared  for  the 
devil  and  his  angels.  The  grace  freely 
offered  you  to-day  will  then  be  withdrawn ; 
never  more  shall  you  mingle  with  God's 
people  whom  you  despise ;  never  more  hear 
the  voice  of  love  of  Him  whom  you  have  re- 
jected, whose  arms  of  tender  compassion  are 
open  this  day  to  shelter  you  from  the  wrath 
of  a  righteous  Judge. 

Let  no  man  deceive  you ;  for  while  he 
cheats  you  with  the  promises  in  which  you 
have  no  part,  he  explains  away  the  warning 
and  the  punishment :  Unless  ye  repent,  "  ye 
shall  die  in  your  sins."  You  say,  "God  is 
merciful,  and  though  I  do  not  know  that  He 
will  do  it,  yet  I  expect  He  will  forgive  me, 
and  it  will  be  all  well  with  me." 


A  RAGGED-SCHOOL  BOY.  91 

You  would  be  content  to  go  to  heaven,  but 
you  will  not  forego  your  foolish  pleasures  and 
beloved  sius.  You  are  willing  to  allow  that 
God  is  a  God  of  infinite  love  and  mercy,  but 
deny  His  infinite  wisdom  and  justice.  The 
day  of  the  Lord  will  come  as  a  thief  in  the 
night.  The  voice  that  bids  you  '  come  '  now, 
will  soon  bid  you  4  depart.'  It  is  written, 
"  Where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is 
not  quenched;"  for  God  is  as  good  as  His 

WORD. 

And  you  who  love  the  Lord,  and  labor  and 
see  but  little  fruit,  be  patient ;  you  shall  reap, 
if  you  faint  not !  If  hearts  seem  to  lie  sullen 
and  untamed  beneath  your  teaching,  be  not 
weary  ;  Christ  waited  long  for  you.  Scatter 
the  seed  in  faith  ;  it  may  not  spring  up  in  the 
form  you  look  for  ;  it  may  not  be  yours  to 
reap,  but  it  cannot  perish  :  that  which  is  born 
of  the  Spirit  is  spirit.  Angels  rejoice  over 
it,  the  Son  of  God  Himself  will  guard  it  as 
the  apple  of  His  eye. 

Go  forth  nothing  doubting :  faithful  labor 
is  the  servant's  offering,  success  the  master's 


92  A  BRIEF  MEMORIAL  OF 

gift.  Ask  and  receive,  that  your  joy  may  be 
full.  Looking  not  on  your  imperfect  service, 
but  to  Him  who  has  covenanted  that  youi 
labor  for  Him  shall  not  be  in  vain.  He  can 
work  by  many  or  by  few :  it  matters  not  if 
He  use  a  pebble  from  the  brook,  a  ram's  horn, 
or  a  broken  pitcher ;  all  things  are  made  by 
Him,  and  for  Him. 

They  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  shall 
shine  as  the  stars  in  heaven.  Faith,  while  it 
honors  the  God  of  truth,  works  for  His  glory. 
When  familiar  faces  greet  you  on  the  thresh- 
old of  your  home  of  light,  they  may  remind 
you  of  a  word  you  thought  too  weak  to  reach 
its  mark,  which  was  winged  with  power ;  the 
prayer  that  seemed  too  feeble  to  rise  to 
heaven  had  returned  through  the  pierced 
hands  of  the  great  High  Priest  in  showers  of 
blessing.  A  gentle  whisper,  a  loving  smile, 
has  conveyed  to  a  sinner's  heart  the  first 
warmth  of  a  Saviour's  love,  and  won  a  soul 
for  Jesus.     Watch,  and  wait,  and  pray ;  for 


WIDOW  GRAY 

AND 

THE    LITTLE    SONG-BIRD 


"Come  unto  Me:  hear,  and your  soul  shall  live :" 

Isaiah  lv.  3. 

"  Grant  me  an  ear  attuned  to  know 
Each  whisper  of  Thy  love  ; 
Lord  !  give  me  strength  to  slay  the  sin, 
That  scares  Thine  Holy  Dove. 
So  may  I  hear,  'mid  every  storm, 
The  song-bird  of  my  home, 
Whilst  safely  sheltered  in  the  Rock 
Where  Jesus  bade  me  "Come." 

uCo?ne  thou  and  all  thy  house  into  the  ark?'' — Gen.  vii.  1. 

|K| HERE  is  one  word  sweeter  to  me  than 

Jte    all  others  in  the  Book  of  books,"  said 

an  aged  widow,  poor  and  nearly  blind,  who 

93 


94 


WIDOW  GRAY. 


had  listened  with  deep  and  loving  attention 
to  the  Word  of  God,  read  to  her  by  a  Chris- 
tian. u  Tell  me,  can  you  guess  what  it  is  ? 
It  is  a  song  for  my  darkness,  and  it  is  brought 
by  a  bird  from  the  Better  Land." 

Her  visitor  paused,  and  after  a  few  minutes' 
consideration,  replied : 

44  Yes,  I  think  I  know;  it  is  'Jesus/ that 
name  above  all  other  names,  and  the  load- 
stone to  those  who  long  to  love  Him  more, 
and  serve  Him  better." 

44  It  is  a  blessed  word,"  said  the  widow, 
"  but  the  name  would  not  be  enough  for  me, 
unless  Jesus  were  my  Saviour.  It  would  not 
help  me  to  know  that  He  had  died  for  sin- 
ners, unless  I  was  sure  He  had  died  for  me. 
No,  it  is  not  that." 

44  Then  you  must  mean  'Heaven,'"  sug- 
gested her  friend,  "  because  Jesus  is  there." 

44  But  if  I  were  not  sure  of  going  there,  it 
would  be  no  comfort  to  me  to  know  that 
Jesus  was  in  Heaven,  and  I  was  bound  for 
Hell !  No  ;  it  is  just  one  word  from  the  lips 
of  the  Lord  Himself.    I  call  it  my  little  song' 


WIDOW  GKAT.  95 

bird.  Hark  !  it  is  this,  «  COME  ! '  When  I 
lay  in  my  sins,  and  thought  I  was  too  vile  for 
God  to  look  on  such  a  one,  that  message  came 
from  the  Lord  to  me.  I  wished  Jesus  had 
called  me  —  chosen  me;  I  longed  to  have 
been  born  before  He  died,  that  I  might  have 
gone  and  laid  hold  of  Him,  and  asked  Him  to 
save  me.  I  thought  I  would  have  held  Him 
fast  until  He  chose  me.  One  night  I  sat 
crying  over  my  bit  of  fire,  and  all  at  once 
there  seemed  trembling  in  my  ear  and  heart 
those  welcome  words,  '  Come  unto  Me,  all  }-e 
that  labor  and  are  heavy-laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest.'  4  Come.'  'Oh!'  thought  I, 
4  can  it  be  for  me  ?  '  c  Xo,'  said  the  devil ;  '  it 
does  not  say,  Come,  Bessy  Gray.'  4  That's 
true,'  thought  I  ;  4  but  then  it  nowhere  says, 
Dont  come,  Bessy  Gray.'  I  began  to  hope. 
I  wished  the  Lord  were  by,  to  silence  Satan. 
And  it  was  as  good  as  if  He  had  been,  for  I 
b?gan  to  feel  the  message  was  for  me.  Then 
I  remembered  a  man  who  preached  by  tli3 
wayside,  not  far  from  this,  and  he  repeated 
over  and  over  again,  4  The  Lord  says,  Whoso- 


96  WIDOW  GRAY. 

ever  will,  let  him  come?  So  I  saw  that  it  was 
to  everybody  that  likes  to  come.  Jesus  never 
turns  away  from  the  vilest  sinner,  for  He  did 
not  turn  away  from  me." 

"It  was  indeed  a  song  in  the  night,"  said 
her  visitor ;  "  and  you  know  now  it  was  the 
same  Dove  that  moved  upon  the  face  "of  the 
waters,  and  descended  upon  the  Son  of  man 
who  brought  it.  You  will  not  forget  His 
song,  will  you  ?  " 

"  No,"  replied  the  widow,  while  her  face 
beamed  with  joy,  "  I  am  not  likely  to  do  that ; 
for  He  sings  the  same  song  for  all  my  wants 
and  doubts  and  sorrows,  and  I  find  it  enough 
to  send  me  on  my  way  rejoicing.  I  am  tempted 
sorely  sometimes  to  think  I  have  no  part  or 
lot  in  the  matter,  that  a  heart  so  full  of  wicked 
thoughts  and  unbelieving  fears  can  never  have 
been  cleansed  in  the  precious  blood  of  Christ. 
But  my  little  song-bird  is  there,  *  Come  now, 
and  let  us  reason  together  :  though  your  sins 
be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  as  white  as  snow  ; ' 
and  again  I  hear  the  voice  of  love,  but  I 
never  weary  of  it,  '  Come  unto  Me ! '  so  I  go 


WIDOW  GRAY.  97 

and  make  my  complaint  to  Jesus ;  and  that's 
what  He  calls  me  for.  Some  days  the  bread 
runs  low,  aye,  and  the  coals  too,  and  I  won- 
der if  the  money  is  all  safe  for  the  next 
week's  rent.  I  ought  to  be  sure  of  that,  for 
it  is  in  the  Lord's  hand.  Perhaps  I  go  about 
perplexed  and  sorrowful  for  a  bit  (you  see  I 
can  do  nothing  for  myself  now)  ;  I  say,  What 
shall  I  do  ?  I  wait  and  wonder  ;  but  soon  I 
hear  the  same  message,  i  Come  unto  Me  ! '  I 
go  straight  to  the  King  of  Heaven,  and  tell 
Him  I  need  fuel  and  food ;  and  He  sends  me 
enough  of  both  and  to  spare,  aye,  more  than 
I  asked  for.     Blessed  be  His  name  !  " 

" 1  love  the  word,"  said  her  friend  ;  "  but  I 
do  not  think  I  ever  felt  its  power  over  daily 
trials  so  much  as  to-day ;  you  have  preached 
me  a  little  sermon  on  one  word.  How  often 
you  will  remember  it  has  cheered  you,  Bessy, 
when  you  hear  it  from  the  lips  of  your  loving 
Lord,  who  has  guided  you  through  the  wild 
wilderness  safe  into  the  promised  land.  ■  Come 
ye,  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  king- 
7 


98  WIDOW  GRAY. 

dom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.'  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  happy  woman,  as  rapture 
seemed  to  light  up  her  almost  sightless  eyes, 
44  and  I  look  to  sing  it  to  Him  too.  Yes,  a 
sinner  saved  by  grace  may  say  to  the  Lord  of 
Glory,  4  Come,  Lord  Jesus  ! '  My  eyes,  that 
now  discern  only  night  from  morning,  shall 
look  upon  His  face ;  for  He  will  4  come  with 
clouds,  and  every  eye  shall  see  Him,'  and  I 
shall  behold  Him,  and  be  with  Him  for  ever- 
more. But  after  all,"  she  added,  after  a  long 
pause,  "  you  must  own  it  was  that  one  little 
word  that  did  it  all." 

44  Yes,"  said  her  friend,  44  the  Heavenly 
Dove  took  of  the  things  of  Jesus  (John  xvi« 
14),  and  showed  them  unto  you.  O  that  we 
were  always  ready  to  listen,  and  never  grieved 
this  loving  messenger  !  " 

Dear  reader,  do  you  know  this  song-bird  of 
the  Better  Land,  who  made  the  widow's  heart 
to  sing  for  joy  ?  Are  you  born  again  ?  for 
only  by  the  renewing  of  the  heart  is  the  ear 
opened  to  the  voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit.     Are 


TVEDOW  GRAY.  99 

you,  as  she  once  was,  weary  and  heavy-laden? 
I  do  not  mean  with  the  world's  toil  and  the 
world's  pleasure,  but  with  the  consciousness 
of  sins  too  heavy  to  be  borne,  when  the  soul 
is  awakening  to  a  sense  of  danger!  Oh  !  then, 
hear  the  free  invitation,  "  Come  ye  to  the 
waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money,  come  ye, 
buy,  and  eat ;  yea,  come,  buy  wine  and  milk 
without  money  and  without  price." 

What  will  it  serve  you,  "if  you  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  lose  your  own  soul?  or 
what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 
soul  ?  "  Will  your  good  works  save  you  ? 
What  will  it  avail  you  that  you  have  taught 
the  ignorant,  fed  the  hungry,  and  clothed  the 
naked,  if  you  have  not  given  }~our  heart  to 
God,  who  gave  Himself  for  you  ?  What  are 
you  the  better  that  others  are  entering  the 
Kingdom  of  Heaven  by  your  means,  and  you 
yourself  cast  into  outer  darkness,  with  weep- 
ing and  gnashing  of  teeth  ?  Your  heart  may 
have  experienced  pleasure  from  your  deeds  of 
kindness,  then  you  have  had  your  reward  ;  but 
forasmuch  as  you  have  given  of  the  labor  of 


100  WIDOW  GRAtf. 

your  Lands,  and  not  the  love  of  your  heart,  it 
is  an  offence  to  God,  for  you  voluntarily  reject 
the  Son  He  gave  to  save  you  :  it  is  the  sacri- 
fice of  Cain.  Through  the  din  and  turmoil  of 
life,  the  sweet  voice  of  that  Dove  soundeth 
still,  "  Whosoever  will,  let  him  come"  If  you 
are  listening  for  the  praise  of  men,  or  the 
foolish  songs  and  the  mad  mirth  of  a  world 
lying  in  wickedness,  or  the  ring  of  the  gold 
and  silver  on  the  counter,  or  the  echo  of  your 
own  good  deeds,  then  indeed  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  the  oft-repeated  invitation 
of  the  Heavenly  Dove  is  lost  in  the  world's 
clamor  ;  there  is  no  place  for  the  sole  of  her 
foot ;  she  has  returned  to  the  Ark ;  or  is  nest- 
ling in  the  broken  heart  of  some  contrite  sin- 
ner, who  finds  the  burden  of  his  sin  intolera- 
ble ;  or  cheering  some  sorrowful  child  of  God, 
who  totters  to  the  feet  of  Jesus  beneath  his 
weight  of  sorrow,  or  life's  daily  needs.  Have 
you  never  longed  to  hear  that  voice  of  love  ? 
Oh,  pause  and  listen  for  it  now  !  The  same 
loving  heart  that  gave  forth  that  gracious  in- 


WIDOW  GRAY.  101 

vitation  on  the  shore  of  Galilee  sends  it  forth 
still,  "  Come  unto  Me." 

Will  your  formal  Sabbaths,  your  prayers, 
save  you  ?  Are  you  trusting  in  them  ?  Be- 
loved reader,  nothing  can  be  more  dangerous ; 
it  is  the  worship  of  Antichrist.  All  your 
prayers  multiplied  a  thousand-fold  cannot  save 
your  soul  from  hell !  The  fearful  penalty  of 
your  sins  is  paid,  the  mighty  transaction  is 
completed  for  you  by  the  Redeemer,  who 
"  His  own  self  bare  our  sins  in  His  own  body 
on  the  tree,  that  we,  being  dead  to  sins, 
should  live  unto  righteousness:  by  whose 
stripes  ye  were  healed  "  (1  Peter  ii.  24)  ;  He 
having  made  peace  through  the  blood  of  His 
cross  (Col.  i.  20),  that  you  should  go  free  ! 

What  would  it  have  availed  the  Israelites, 
had  they  eaten  the  paschal  Lamb  and  the 
bitter  herbs  outside  the  blood-stained  lintel  ?  or 
if  they  had  chosen  sacrifices  according  to  their 
own  devices  and  superstitious  imaginations? 
The  will  of  the  Lord  was  revealed  to  them  in 
this  matter ;  it  is  more  fully  revealed  now : 
there  is  but  one  Sacrifice  for  sin,  the  Lamb 


102  WIDOW  GRAY. 

without  blemish  and  without  spot.  If  you 
are  striving  to  win  forgiveness  for  3'ourself, 
you  reject  the  Son  of  God  who  died  to  save 
you.  You  must  first  come  to  Christ  before 
your  prayers  will  be  heard. 

You  say,  "  I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by 
4  coming,'  but  I  believe  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  I 
hope  God  will  forgive  my  sins,  and  take  me 
to  Heaven ;  I  often  pray  that  He  will." 

You  pray !  And  you  do  not  know  if  you 
are  forgiven?  If  your  sins  are  unforgiven, 
there  remains  no  more  sacrifice  for  sin  ;  you 
are  shut  out  from  Him  who  is  of  purer  eyes 
than  to  behold  iniquity  ;  and  you  are  nothing 
less  than  one  under  condemnation  of  eternal 
death.  '  What  is  it  to  come  ?  what  faith  is 
needed  before  coming  ? '  you  ask. 

This  poor  widow,  unconsciously  to  herself, 
explained  the  whole  matter.  She  did  not 
wait  to  look  at  her  faith  before  coming,  but 
proved  it  by  coming,  and  thus  believing  the 
word  of  the  Lord.  To  know  that  Jesus 
Christ  was  called  '  The  Saviour,'  and  died  for 
sinners,  would  have  availed  her  nothing,  un- 


WIDOW  GRAY.  103 

less  she  had  made  use  of  that  knowledge. 
41  The  devils  also  believe,  and  tremble.'' 
(James  ii.  19.)  The  mere  assent  of  her  un- 
derstanding to  the  covenant  of  salvation  could 
have  done  nothing  for  her  soul,  any  more 
than  the  knowledge  and  belief  of  some  his- 
torical fact ;  but  that  which  gave  her  rest 
was,  "  He  died  for  me." 

She  knew  this  before  she  came ;  for  it 
would  have  been  vain  to  have  gone  if  He  had 
not  died  for  her.  She  could  not  have  ex- 
pected a  single  blessing,  since  all  spiritual 
blessings  are  the  purchase  of  Christ's  precious 
blood !  If  that  blood  had  not  been  shed  for 
her,  neither  was  pardon,  grace,  eternal  life, 
nor  any  other  vital  possession  hers  :  if  she  had 
kept  going  for  a  hundred  years,  she  could 
have  expected  nothing,  she  could  have  re- 
ceived nothing.  We  must  know  that  certain 
things  are  provided  for  us,  before  we  can  come 
for  them.  I  must  believe  the  feast  is  spread 
for  me,  before  I  sit  down  to  partake  of  it. 

"  Coming"  and  "believing,"  then,  are  but 
one  and  the  same  evidence  of  faith.     Nothing 


104  WIDOW  GRAY. 

is  believing,  nothing  is  faith,  except  knowing 
that  Christ  loved  me  —  gave  Himself  for  me 
—  redeemed  me  from  the  wrath  to  come  — 
washed  away  my  sins  —  cancelled  my  bond  — 
paid  my  debt,  once  and  forever,  by  His  own 
blood. 

You  say,  "How  am  I  to  know  this?" 
Truly,  by  the  Word  of  God  alone ;  for  that 
is  God's  own  testimony  to  this  very  truth. 

Christ  says  "Come  !  "  by  the  Gospel.  The 
invitation  to  the  feast  is  indited  by  the  Lord 
of  the  mansion  Himself;  it  is  offered  to  "  all 
who  willy9  — proof  enough  that  it  is  provided 
for  me  and  for  you. 

"  Come  !  "  he  cries  with  a  voice  of  love, 
speaking  by  His  blood  from  the  cross  (John 
vi.  35)  ;  "  Come  !  "  by  the  daily  gift  of  un- 
merited mercies !  "  Come  !  "  by  the  lingering 
sickness  unimproved,  by  the  tender  interposi- 
tion of  Providence  disregarded  ;  "  Come  !  " 
by  the  empty  chair  on  the  household  hearth, 
and  the  added  grave  in  the  distant  land ;  by 
the  sorrowful  estrangement  of  loved  ones ;  by 
the  ingratitude  and  treachery  of  the  trusted  , 


WIDOW  GRAY.  105 

by  the  shattered  fortune  and  unsuccessful 
speculation.  "Come!"  is  the  call  of  the 
Spirit  in  my  heart,  enabling  me  to  see  that 
Christ  has  taken  my  place  under  the  wrath 
of  God,  and*  that  He  offers  me  His  place  as 
the  Beloved  of  the  Father. 

"  If  ye  abide  in  Me,  and  My  words  abide 
in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall 
be  done  unto  you.  Herein  is  My  Father  glo- 
rified, that  ye  bear  much  fruit ;  so  shall  ye  be 
My  disciples."  (John  xv.  7,  8.)  It  is  from 
this  position,  alone  that  we  can  walk  with 
God,  work  with  God,  and  testify  for  Him. 
Believing  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  you  are 
justified,  your  iniquity  is  pardoned,  and  the 
kingdom  you  have  entered  contains  the  foun- 
tain for  daily  pollution.  (Zech.  xiii.  1.)  The 
same  voice  that  cries  "  Come"  says  also, 
"  Wash  and  be  clean." 

A  dear  little  child  of  God  tried  to  explain 
herself  in  the  following  simple  way,  to  a 
friend  who  appeared  to  doubt  her  apprehen- 
sion of  having  come  to  Christ : 

"  I  will  try  to  tell  you  how  I  feel  that  I  am 


106  WIDOW  GRAY. 

in  Christ.  One  day  I  was  playing  in  mam- 
ma's room;  I  heard  nurse  and  another  ser- 
vant coming  up-stairs ;  I  thought  they  were 
in  search  of  me,  and  I  wanted  to  hide  from 
them.  I  saw  no  way  but  this :  mamma's 
dress  was  on  a  chair,  so  I  lay  down  on  the 
floor  and  pulled  the  dress  over  me ;  you  could 
not  have  seen  so  much  as  my  foot  or  finger. 

"As  they  passed  the  door,  nurse  said, 
'Why,  there's  my  mistress's  dress  on  the 
floor ;  I  wonder  how  that  is ; '  but  they  did 
not  come  into  the  room,  but  went  up  to  the 
nursery,  and  did  not  see  me.  Now  that's  just 
what  I  feel  about  Jesus:  God  does  not  see 
me ;  He  looks  at  the  Saviour,  and  I  am  cov- 
ered in  Him  !  " 

I  have  given  this  forcible  illustration  in  the 
simple  language  of  the  little  lamb  herself. 
The  dear  child  knew  she  had  come  to  Jesus, 
and  was  thus  hidden  forever  from  the  just 
indignation  of  a  holy  God  by  the  imputed 
righteousness  of  Him  "  who  knew  no  sin." 

"  Hear,  and  your  soul  shall  live."  For 
those  who  will  not  hear  the  gracious  invita- 


WIDOW  GRAY.  107 

tion  in  the  time  of  love  will  not  hear  it  in  the 
hour  of  the  great  ingathering ;  they  may 
behold  the  unfolding  gates  of  glory,  when 
the  Lord  shall  come,  but  they  shall  not  enter 
therein. 

Hark  how  the  Lord  pleadeth :  "  Come  unto 
Me."  "Ye  will  not  come  unto  Me,  that  ye 
might  have  life." 

Do  you  think  your  sin  is  too  great  to  be 
forgiven?  His  love  is  greater.  He  cries, 
"Come."  Does  sorrow  lay  you  low?  His 
love  is  deeper.  "  Come."  Have  all  you 
trusted  in  deceived  and  forsaken  you  ?  His 
love  is  unchangeable.  "Come."  Do  you 
think  you  have  never  truly  sought  Him? 
Seek  Him  now.  "He  is  found  of  them  that 
sought  Him  not."  Still  the  Dove  singeth, 
"Come."  Have  you  forsaken  Him  who  so 
loved  you,  and  would  you  return  ?  Hark ! 
it  is  still  "  Come  unto  Me."  "  Him  that  com- 
eth  to  Me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out."  Lin- 
ger not ;  the  night  cometh ;  the  door  will  be 
shut ;  you  will  have  your  part  in  outer  dark- 
ness; never,  in  that  midnight  that  has  no  day 


108  WIDOW  GRAY. 

to  follow  its  gloom,  shall  the  voice  of  tha 
song-bird  be  heard  ;  never  more  will  that  ten- 
der invitation  sound  in  the  heart  whence  hope 
will  be  forever  shut  out.  To-morrow  it  may 
be  too  late.  To-day  —  even  to-day,  "  I  have 
a  message  from  God  unto  thee."  It  fell 
from  the  lips  of  Him  who  spake  as  never 
man  spake  —  from  Him  whose  "  long-suf- 
fering is  salvation."  It  cometh  from  the 
loving  heart  of  Jesus.  Hark  !  it  is  the  song- 
bird, 

"  Come  ! " 

"  Come  unto  Me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  (Matt. 
xi.  28.) 

"THE  VOICE  OF  THE   TURTLE   IS   HEARD 
IN   OUR   LAND." 

Cant.  ii.  12. 

Come  to  Jesus  !  ye  who  wander 
Far  from  hope,  and  peace,  and  rest, 

Scorned,  neglected,  and  forsaken, 
Sorrowful  and  sore  distressed  ; 

Come  to  Jesus ! 
Ye  by  sin  and  fear  oppressed. 


WIDOW  GRAY.  100 

Come  to  Jesus  !  ye  who  never 

Listened  to  His  word  before, 
Hear  His  loving  invitation 

Sounding  on  the  Red  Sea  shore ; 
Come  to  Jesus ! 

And  behold  your  sins  no  more. 

Come  to  Jesus  !     Egypt's  chariots 

And  her  horsemen  may  pursue ; 
But  the  Arm  revealed  to  save  him 

Bears  the  feeblest  trembler  through ; 
Come  to  Jesus ! 

For  His  love  is  tried  and  true. 

Come  to  Jesus  !  He  hath  loved  you 

With  an  everlasting  love, 
And  His  heart  of  tenderest  pity 

Needs  no  sacrifice  to  move. 
Come  to  Jesus ! 

And  His  free  salvation  prove. 

Come  to  Jesus  !  Canaan's  country 

Is  the  pilgrim's  happy  home  ; 
Linger  not  in  Egypt's  bondage, 

Sharer  of  the  sinner's  doom. 
Come  to  Jesus  ! 

Hark !  the  Spirit  whispers,  "  Come  ! " 


110  WIDOW  GKAY. 

Come  to  Jesus  !  cast  behind  you 
Filthy  shreds  that  form  your  dress, 

And  the  King  shall  then  array  you 
In  His  perfect  righteousness. 

Come  to  Jesus  ! 
Hungering  in  your  nakedness. 

Come  !  put  on  the  wedding  garment ! 

See  !  the  feast  for  thee  outspread ! 
Sinner,  'tis  for  thee  provided, 

And  the  price  is  fully  paid. 
Come  to  Jesus ! 

He,  the  Lamb,  hath  died  instead. 

Thee,  poor  sinner,  hath  He  loved ; 

Thee  He  welcomes  ;  yea,  He  gave 
His  own  life  (the  costly  ransom) 

To  redeem  thee  from  the  grave. 
Come  to  Jesus  ! 

For  He  calleth  but  to  save. 

'Come,"  O,  come  !  the  Master  waiteth, 
"  Come  !  "  the  longing  Bride  doth  say  ; 
Come  !  "  He  tarries  while  we  linger, 
He  hath  borne  our  sins  away : 

Come  to  Jesus ! 
u  Come,"  the  Spirit  cries,  "  to-day." 


a 


LOVE  DID  IT;" 

OR, 

CAUGHT    AT    LAST 


>XK< 


"Love  suffereth  long,  and  is  kind." —  I  Cor.  xiii.  4. 

"God  commendeth  His  love  toward  us,  in  that,  whih 
we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us." —  Rom.  v.  8. 

■W?  THINK  Old  Jem  is  caught  at  last," 
«S»  said  a  Christian  man  to  his  friend,  after 
detailing  the  particulars  of  an  accident  which 
had  befallen  one  of  the  most  inveterate  blas- 
phemers in  the  neighborhood.  "  We  have 
sent  him  tracts,  and  I  have  spoken  to  him  of 
his  danger  whenever  I  could  meet  him  ;  we 
have  long  prayed  for  him,  and  now,  just  as 
I  had  given  up  hope,  and  all  seemed  in 
vain  —  " 

111 


112  LOVE  DID  IT. 

44  The  Lord  is  answering,"  rejoined  his 
friend,  quietly. 

u  Do  you  mean  by  that  we  are  not  to 
work  ?  "  inquired  the  first  speaker,  somewhat 
quickly. 

"Far  from  it,"  replied  his  friend;  "  but 
while  we  wait,  we  are  serving ;  when  we 
walk,  we  must  follow  Him  who  goeth  before, 
and  watch  while  we  pray.  There  is  always  a 
wide  field  for  the  flesh ;  it  is  impatient  and 
restless;  we  are  often  too  eager  for  active 
service.  God  has  his  own  time  for  granting 
our  prayers,  and  crowning  our  labors.  If  we 
wait  in  subjection  on  the  Holy  Spirit's  guid- 
ance, He  works  through  us,  and  by  us,  when 
the  'set  time  is  fully  come.'  " 

"  Well,  you  must  confess  that  you  have 
never  met  with  a  more  discouraging  case  than 
this.  I  should  like  to  be  here  to  see  the  re- 
sult. Will  you  visit  the  old  sailor  in  my 
absence  ?  " 

The  question  was  put  doubtfully  to  Mr. 
I> ,  for  he  had  been  peculiarly  singled  out 


LOVE  DID  IT.  113 

for  insults  and  abuse  by  his  avowed  tor* 
mentor. 

After  a  pause,  he  replied,  u  I  will  go;  why 
not?     Surely  the  Lord  is  working  for  us  ?  " 

I  know  not  why  James  L — —  was  called 
"  Old  Jem,"  for  he  was  not  much  more  than 
fifty  years  of  age,  yet  he  had  borne  the  name 

from  the  day  he  had  first  resided  at  C -. 

From  what  we  could  gather,  he  was  a  dis- 
abled seafaring  man ;  he  could  labor  in  many 
ways  still  if  he  liked,  but  no  one  cared  to 
employ  him,  if  any  other  person  could  be 
found  for  the  same  service  ;  his  fierce,  ungov- 
ernable temper,  and  appalling  oaths,  made 
him  a  terror  even  to  those  accustomed  to 
the  roughest  characters.  He  had  a  certain 
amount  of  education;  but  his  opposition  to 
the  Truth,  and  his  determined  persecution 
of  all  God's  people,  rendered  the  difficulties 
of  access  to  him  greater  than  to  many  of  the 
most  ignorant. 

His  mother  loved  him ;  she  had  borne  him, 
and  nursed  him ;  and  mothers  love  us  in  spite 


114  LOVE  DID  IT. 

of  our  faults.  I  suppose  his  wife  loved  him 
once,  as  she  married  him ;  perhaps  she  con- 
tinued to  love  him  ;  but  he  was  a  harsh  and 
cruel  husband,  and  she  lived  but  a  short  time 
after  their  arrival  in  this  neighborhood.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  I  never  heard  of  any  one  else, 
old  or  3roung,  rich  or  poor,  who  was  even 
supposed  to  love  James  L . 

One  evening  there  was  a  dispute  between 
him  and  a  tavern-companion ;  it  ended  in  a 
fight.  Old  Jem  was  beaten;  he  had  met 
wi-th  an  antagonist  who  was  stronger  than 
himself.  Not  only  was  he  severely  bruised 
in  the  fall  beneath  the  heavy  arm  of  his  op- 
ponent, but  his  thigh  was  broken  also. 

There  he  lay  !  the  strong,  insolent  man, 
from  whom  so  many  shrank  in  dread,  helpless 
as  a  child,  groaning  and  blaspheming  in  turns. 
Scarcely  could  two  of  his  evil  companions,  so 
ready  to  help  him  on  in  the  ways  of  sin,  be 
fcund  to  convey  him  on  a  shutter  to  his 
home ;  and  when  they  had  at  last  reluctantly 
assisted  in  so  doing,  they  hastened  to  quit  his 
side,  and  leave  him  alone  with  the  surgeons. 


LOVE  DID  IT.  115 

It  was  the  day  following  the  morning  of 
the  accident  when  the  Christian  man,  who  had 
promised  to  visit  him,  entered  the  room,  and 
addressed  a  few  kindly  words  of  sympathy  to 
one  who,  in  the  days  of  health  and  strength, 
had  so  often  rejected  the  message  of  Love, 
and  heaped  contumely  on  the  messenger. 
Unsubdued  by  a  night's  suffering,  the  sailor 
greeted  his  visitor  with  a  sneer,  accusing  him 
of  cowardice  in  forcing  himself  on  a  man  who 
did  not  desire  his  company,  and  who  now 
could  not  avoid  it ;  adding  that  he  guessed 
his  errand,  namely,  to  read  the  Bible,  and  to 
tell  him  of  other  things,  to  which  he  would 
not  listen. 

He  was  not  wrong  in  his  suspicion,  though 
the  appointed  time  had  not  come  for  the  dis- 
ciple to  speak  of  his  Master;. but  "they  that 
wait  on  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength  ;" 
they  share  His  counsel,  and  do  His  will. 

The  visitor  listened  sadly  and  in  silence  to 
the  oaths  and  imprecations  that  assailed  him  ; 
for  a  moment  his  heart  sank  within  him  at  the 
violence  of  a  reception  so  opposed  to  what  he 


116  LOVE  DID  IT. 

had  desired,  and  therefore  expected ;  but  the 
same  Lord  who  controls  the  tempest,  and 
casts  out  the  evil  spirits,  has  set  bounds  to 
the  wrath  of  man,  causing  it  to  praise  Him, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  wrath  is  re- 
strained. 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  torrent  of  abuse. 

Mr.   D lingered ;   his   eyes   wandered 

over  the  poverty-stricken  room,  to  the  scan- 
tily furnished  bed,  and  rested  again  on  the 
repulsive  countenance  swathed  in  bandages, 
and  contorted  and  inflamed  with  rage  and 
pain. 

He  felt  that  the  Lord  was  speaking  in  this 
visitation;  that  the  Saviour  was  yearning  over 
this  soul,  in  danger  of  everlasting  death,  with 
the  depth  of  love  that  passeth  knowledge. 
Jesus  had  shed  His  precious  blood  for  this 
bold  blasphemer,  this  hardened  sinner.  Over 
him  angels  might  yet  rejoice,  while  the  Father 
proclaimed,  "  He  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again  ; 
was  lost,  and  is  found." 

It  is  no  effort  to  speak  tenderly  and  act 
wisel}T,  while  under  the  influence  of  heavenly 


LOVE  DID  IT.  117 

pity.  James  had  guessed  truly ;  it  was  the 
object  of  his  visitor  to  tell  him  of  the  love 
of  God  to  sinners,  and  to  show  him  that  God 
Himself  was  then  dealing  with  him  ;  and 
should  he  desire  to  hear  that  message  which 
he  now  refused,  if  he  would  send  and  say  so, 

Mr.  D would  return  and  read  it  to  him 

from  God's  own  Word  :  it  was  written  for  the 
terror  of  scorners,  and  the  hope  of  the  lost 
sinner. 

Mr.  D- departed,  and  the  next  morning 

sent  a  servant  with  additions  for  the  sick 
man's  bed,  fuel,  warm  food,  and  other  need- 
ful comforts.  The  following  day  showed  that 
Old  Jem  was  unforgotten,  and  still  the  same 
care  seemed  over  that  otherwise  comfortless 
dwelling ;  but  no  message  was  either  sent 
with  the  succor,  or  thanks  returned  for  it. 
Sullen  acceptance  on  the  one  hand,  and  pray- 
erful silence  on  the  other,  were  all  that  rec- 
ognized the  tender  care  of  the  Lord,  who 
sends  the  rain  upon  the  seed  scattered  in  His 
name.  But  there  were  wrestling  supplications 
at  the  throne  of  grace  for  the  poor  sinner,  and 


118  LOVE  DID  IT. 

many  prayers  had  been  already  gathered  for 
the  strengthening  of  the  faith  of  His  servants 
ere  God's  hand  was  moved.  And  who  can 
hinder,  when  the  set  time  is  fully  come  ? 

By  the  providence  of  God,  Old  Jem  was 
left  alone ;  no  one  appeared  to  care  to  seek 
him  in  his  affliction,  and  many  were  even 
thankful  in  the  quiet  they  possessed  in  the 
downfall  of  their  turbulent  neighbor. 

In  those  long  winter  nights  of  pain,  and 
days  of  inaction  (following  the  amputation 
of  the  poor  sufferer's  crushed  thigh),  so  try- 
ing to  the  active  temperament  of  the  once 
strong  man,  there  was  at  least  stillness,  and 
in  the  silence  of  those  weary  hours,  it  may  be, 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  God  was  heard  call- 
ing the  sins  of  a  long  life  to  remembrance ; 
whether  in  the  thunders  of  Sinai,  or  like  to 
Him  who  spake  to  Paul,  "  Why  persecutest 
thou  Me  ?  "  I  know  not ;  God  knoweth. 

At  last,  broken  down  with  a  sense  of  his 
own  utterly  lost  state,  a  humble  entreaty  was 
sent  from  Old  Jem  to  the  rejected  friend, 
beseeching  him  to  come  and  visit  him.     Ac- 


LOVE  DID  IT.  119 

cording  to  the  will  of  the  Lord,  the  servant 
went  forth  once  more  in  His  name  who  alone 
giveth  the  hearing  ear,  and  who  had  prepared 
the  way  before  him. 

There  was  nothing  in  the  bearing  of  James 
L 's  visitor  that  would  have  led  an  ob- 
server to  suppose  that  he  had  not  been  always 
as  welcome  as  he  was  this  morning.  He  ap- 
proached the  sick  man's  bed-side,  and  taking 
his  hand  gently,  asked  him  what  he  could  do 
for  him  ?  There  was  no  shade  of  distrust  or 
of  wrongs  remembered,  to  recall  to  the  peni- 
tent his  former  hard  reception.  The  warm 
grasp  of  the  hand,  and  frank  greeting  of  the 
kind  face  that  bent  over  him,  fairly  conquered 
the  last  stronghold  behind  which  the  enemy 
would  have  striven  to  keep  the  man  of  God 
afar  off. 

Old  Jem  wept  abundantly,  as  he  sobbed 
forth,  "  I  thought  you  would  not  come,  sir  !  " 

"  Why  not,  Jem  ?  I  told  you  I  would 
come." 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  but  since  then  I  knew  I  did  not 
deserve  it.     Sir,  I  am  a  lost  sinner  !  " 


120  LOVE  DID  IT. 

And  this  was  the  first  acknowledgment  of 
unworthiness    ever   heard   from   the   lips  of 

James  L .     For  more  than  half  a  century 

he  had  lived  without  God  in  the  world,  a  will- 
ing slave  of  Satan,  in  whose  service  his  time 
and  strength  had  been  spent,  and  now  he  was 
about  to  receive  his  wages  from  the  world's 
hard  taskmaster ;  "  for  the  wages  of  sin  is 
death" — death  eternal !  The  Lord  sent  once 
more  an  offer  of  grace,  a  messenger  of  mercy. 

I  said  I  could  not  tell  you  how  the  Lord 
dealt  with  this  sinner.  I  wish  I  could,  for  all 
His  dealings  reveal  more  and  more  of  His 
unfathomable  love  ;  but  this  I  know,  from 
that  day  all  things  became  new  to  the  awak- 
ened soul.  When  a  few  months  had  passed, 
Old  Jem  went  forth  from  his  home,  which 
was  in  a  narrow  dark  court  in  the  suburbs  of 
London,  to  his  former  haunts,  no  longer  the 
boastful,  bold  blasphemer,  and  quarrelsome 
neighbor,  whose  hand  was  against  every  man, 
and  every  man's  hand  against  him;  he  was 
born  again  of  the  Spirit,  by  which  alone  life 
in  Christ,  everlasting  life,  is  received. 


LOVE  DID  IT.  121 

Before   James   L had    laid    aside   \\3 

crutches  and  replaced  his  lost  limb  by  a 
wooden  one,  no  one  doubted  who  was  the 
master  he  served  —  even  the  Lord  Jesus T 
whom  he  had  once  reviled  and  despised  ;  and 
within  the  last  few  years  the  old  sailor  was 
itinerating  from  place  to  place,  preaching  with 
humble  zeal  the  faith  he  had  once  sought  to 
destroy. 

The  covenant  is  ordered  in  all  things,  and 
sure  ;  will  you  question  the  word  of  Him  who 
cannot  lie  ?  "  He  that  hath  the  Son  hath 
life ;  and  he  that  hath  not  the  Son  of  God 
hath  not  life."     (1  John  v.  12.) 

More  than  eighteen  hundred  years  ago, 
when  the  set  time  was  fully  come,  as  it  was 
foretold  in  the  Scriptures,  the  Son  of  God 
came  down  to  this  world  lying  in  wickedness; 
He  was  brought  forth  in  a  stable ;  He  was 
subject  to  His  own  sin-born  servants ;  Ha 
bore  their  infirmities  and  sicknesses ;  suf- 
fered their  contempt  and  rejection ;  daily 
endured   their   ignorance,  their   insults,   and 


122  LOVE  DID  IT. 

revilings ;  and  in  due  time  bowed  His  sinlesa 
head  beneath  the  wrath  of  God,  which  was 
their  portion,  in  their  stead  ;  and  died  to  save 
them. 

"  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He  gave 
His  only-begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  be- 
lieveth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life."  (John  iii.  16.)  So  loved  us, 
that  He  gave  Himself  for  our  sins,  that  He 
might  deliver  us  from  this  present  evil  world, 
according  to  the  will  of  God.  (Gal.  i.  4.) 
"  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that 
a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends. " 
(John  xv.  13.) 

Dear  reader,  do  you  know  anything  of  this 
love?  Has  your  heart  ever  melted,  as  it 
gazed  on  the  Son  of  God  dying  upon  the 
accursed  tree  for  you  ?  Has  it  made  the  bur- 
den of  sin  press  heavily,  those  sins  that  cru- 
cified the  Son  of  Man?  Do  you  know  that 
peace  which  is  won  for  you  by  that  priceless 
sacrifice  ?  Do  you  know  that  reconciliation 
and  perfect  substitution  are  made  for  you? 


LOVE  DID  IT.  123 

and  have  }'OU  experimentally  learned  that 
M  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them  that  are 
in  Christ  Jesus  "? 

You  ma)-  not  be  a  blasphemer,  neither  a 
drunkard,  nor  a  brawler;  perhaps  you  may 
perform  religious  duties,  "give  tithes  of  all 
that  you  possess,"  and  be  prominent  in  many 
a  scheme  of  benevolence,  and  yet  know  noth- 
ing of  divine  love,  which  is  born  only  of  the 
transforming  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the 
soul.  "  Ye  must  be  born  again."  You  may 
not  know  yourself  a  sinner,  and  yet  be  at 
peace  with  the  world  and  yourself.  Ah ! 
that  is  another  sort  of  peace,  springing  from 
a  love  opposed  to  the  love  of  God ;  it  loveth 
darkness  rather  than  light,  because  its  deeds 
are  evil.  The  love  which  the  world  proffers 
is  capricious,  exacting,  and  always  disappoint- 
ing ;  the  love  of  Christ  is  tender,  ennobling, 
and  faithful ;  the  love  of  God  is  life ;  the 
love  of  the  world  is  death ;  the  peace  which 
the  world  gives  is  the  peace  of  the  hardened 
heart  and  the  seared  conscience ;  the  "  peace 
of  God  passeth  all  understanding;"  the  world 


124  LOVE  DID  IT. 

cannot  trouble  it ;  it  is  beyond  the  reach  of 
Satan  to  destroy  it. 

Dear  reader,  have  you  peace  with  God  ?  and 
if  not,  wherefore  ? 

If  you  are  of  the  world  (and  all  those  who 
are  not  in  Christ  Jesus  are  of  the  world),  you 
can  understand  nothing  of  the  principle  from 
which  this  love  springs,  though  you  may  feel 
its  power ;  for  u  the  natural  man  receiveth 
not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  for  they 
are  foolishness  to  him  :  neither  can  he  know 
them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned. " 

Satan  has  his  imitation  of  love,  as  he  has 
of  all  spiritual  manifestations  of  Divine  Truth. 
The  wide  philanthropy  that  speaks  of  em- 
bracing all  persons  and  all  errors  irrespec- 
tively in  its  affections  (though  there  is  gen- 
erally a  reserve  which  excludes  the  children 
of  the  kingdom),  the  false  charity  that  is  con- 
tent to  believe  all  are  in  a  way  of  safety  who 
walk  according  to  their  own  darkness,  who 
make  a  savior  of  almsgiving,  or  honesty,  or 
benevolence,  or  religious  observances,  —  this 
is  not  the  love  of  the  Spirit. 


LOVE  DID  IT.  125 

If  you  are  contented  with  the  world's  joys, 
you  know  nothing  yet  of  the  love  of  God  by 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  cannot  be  ex* 
pected  to  have  a  care  that  others  miss  the 
mark  of  eternal  life,  which  has  no  value  in 
your  eyes ! 

Yet  this  priceless  love  has  been  shed  upon 
you  day  by  day ;  the  gift  of  every  good  thing 
falls  through  the  hands  you  have  pierced  with 
your  sins. 

His  love  endureth  ;  He  waiteth  still  to  be 
gracious  ;  He  is  ready  to  forgive  ;  plenteous 
in  mercy.  Turn  ye  to-day !  Behold  His 
hands  and  His  side  !  Hearken  to  the  cry  of 
complete  salvation  that  rises  from  Calvary  I 

"  IT   IS   FINISHED  !  " 

Oh,  my  reader,  Love  did  it  all  I 


126  LOVE  DID  IT. 


LOVE    DID    IT. 

1  BEHOLD,  WHAT  MANNER  OF  LOVE  THE  FATHER   HATH   BESTOWED  UPOM 

us."  —  i  John  iii.  i. 

\ 

'Twas  Love,  abounding  Love,  that  won 
The  Father  to  bestow  the  Son, 

To  bear  His  people's  shame  ! 
The  guiltless  One,  by  fools  reviled, 
The  Servant  meek  —  the  Holy  Child 

Jesus  !  oh,  welcome  name  ! 

'Twas  Love  that  drew  the  Saviour  down 
From  angels'  songs  and  heavenly  throne, 

Upon  the  cross  to  die  ! 
Love  bore  the  taunt,  the  scourge,  the  woe ! 
That  hour  of  darkness  none  may  know  — 

And  all  for  such  as  I  ! 

What  brought  Thee  from  Thy  rest  above, 
Thou  Holy  One,  Thou  spotless  Dove  ! 

On  man's  hard  heart  to  fall  ? 
Witness  of  Three  in  One  to  bless, 
Of  Wisdom,  Power,  and  Faithfulness, 

'Twas  Love  that  did  it  all ! 

Love  did  it  all !  —  undying  Love, 
Nor  sin,  nor  time,  nor  change,  can  move  —  -* 
Tender,  enduring,  strong. 


LOVE   DED   IT.  127 

The  Love  that  hath  my  sins  forgiven, 
That  makes  my  portion,  and  my  heaven, 
Shall  swell  my  happy  song. 

I'll  tell  it  in  the  sinner's  ear, 
I'll  sing  it  to  the  worldlings  near, 

And  ask  no  other  theme. 
'Twill  flow  to  soothe  the  mourner's  wail, 
And  children  hold  the  oft-told  tale 

Dearer  than  fiction's  dream. 

So  lead  me,  Holy  Dove,  to  rest, 
And  ever  on  my  Saviour's  breast 

With  God  Eternal  dwell ; 
And  there  each  cross  and  cloud  recall, 
And  praise  the  Love  that  did  it  all, 

For  Love  doth  all  things  well ! 

The  narrative  I  have  so  briefly  touched  on 
is  homely  and  bald  in  incident,  in  that  we 
miss  the  knowledge  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  Spirit  of  God  worked  on  the  sailor's  soul. 
I  could  have  found  many  an  anecdote,  both 
of  history  and  home  life,  more  attractive ; 
but,  simple  as  it  is,  the  Lord  carried  it  home 
in  power  to  a  soul  that  was  soon  afterwards 
buught  uuder  the  abiding  influence  of  the 


128  LOVE  DID  IT. 

Holy  Spirit,  and  it  seemed  an  earnest  of 
blessing.  Perhaps  it  may  also  suggest  to 
some  who  possess  the  heavenly  treasure  with 
which  the  Lord  intrusts  His  followers,  to 
give  "not  grudgingly,  or  of  necessity;  for 
God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver." 

Many,  into  whose  house  salvation  has 
entered,  are  saying,  "  How  much  shall  we 
give  of  our  substance,  for  the  Lord's  sake  ?  " 
when  they  have  yet  to  learn  how  much  they 
can  forgive  for  His  sake. 

It  is  easier  to  bestow  half  our  possessions 
on  the  poor,  to  give  tithes  of  all  that  we  call 
our  own,  and  to  restore  fourfold  for  that  we 
have  taken,  than  to  stretch  out  the  willing 
hand  (seven  times  a  day,  if  need  be)  to  the 
offending  brother;  and  yet  "the  long-suffer- 
ing of  the  Lord  is  salvation." 

We  cannot  love  our  enemies  by  looking  at 
them,  by  enumerating  our  wrongs,  by  gaug- 
ing our  own  sufferings,  inflicted  of  many ;  it 
is  not  thus  that  we  shall  fulfil  the  new  com- 
mandment ;  it  is  by  looking  to  Him  who  has 
forgiven  us;  oh,  how  much  more  than  we  can 


LOVE  DID  IT.  129 

possibly  pardon  in  our  worst  enemies !  It  is 
by  feeling  the  full  and  free  forgiveness  bought 
for  us  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  slain  ;  it  is 
by  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts, 
that  all  enmity  is  cast  out.  The  Christian 
has  received  freely,  and  freely  he  gives  his 
enemies  forgiveness. 

Love  and  prayer  are  vessels  that  are  never 
stranded ;  they  will  surely  come  back  some 
day  freighted  with  treasure,  and  with  such  a 
breath  of  the  better  land  in  their  sails,  that 
none  shall  question  that  heavenly  country 
whence  they  have  returned. 

Oh,  that  alms-giving  may  never  be  strait- 
ened to  gold,  and  silver,  and  precious  stones ! 
It  is  easier  to  give  of  hard  coin  than  to  heap 
the  fuel  of  love  upon  those  who  resist,  and 
hate,  and  misunderstand,  and  revile  you ! 
Easier  to  part  with  houses  and  land,  and 
sometimes  with  household  affections,  than 
with  the  gratification  of  resentment.  One 
whose  ministry  was  richly  blessed  was  asked 
for  advice  by  a  young  man  who  sought  to 
walk  in  the  same  path.  He  replied  : 
9 


130  LOVE  DID  IT. 

"  As  to  advice,  I  have  none  to  give,  except 
this  —  towards  all  persons,  at  all  times,  and 
in  all  things,  endeavor  to  win  by  love.  Love 
is  the  universal  conqueror.  By  tenderness, 
forbearance,  and  love,  we  may  greatly  benefit 
those  who  come  in  contact  with  us.  If  we 
are  only  ready  to  serve  our  friends,  even  in 
their  meanest  and  commonest  requirements, 
like  Him  who  washed  the  feet  of  His  friends, 
we  shall  conciliate  their  regard,  and  greatly 
facilitate  the  advancement  of  truth  in  their 
souls." 

There  are  few  who  have  received  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  taken  up  the  cross,  who  have  not 
found  the  foes  of  their  own  household  the 
most  appalling  to  meet,  and  the  most  danger- 
ous to  encounter.  The  parent  to  whom  sub- 
mission in  childhood  has  been  given,  the 
brother,  the  sister,  the  wife,  the  husband,  the 
familiar  friend,  who  have  bitterly  resented 
the  progress  of  divine  life  in  the  soul,  that 
sunders  the  earthly  walk  and  companionship 
from  them,  all  this  is  hard  to  bear ;  neverthe- 


LOVE  DID  IT.  131 

less,  from  such  withhold  not  the  pleasant  sun- 
shine of  kind  words  and  deeds.  Let  those 
share  them  who  neither  appreciate  you  nor 
love  you.  Jesus  did  .so ;  and  "if  ye  love 
them  that  love  you,  what  reward  have  ye?" 
"  God  commendeth  His  love  toward  us,  in 
that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died 
for  us."  "  Saved  by  His  life."  The  God  of 
heaven  sends  His  sunshine  and  shower  upon 
the  just  and  the  unjust,  upon  the  evil  and  the 
good.  It  does  not  impoverish  the  bounty 
from  whence  it  flows,  and  will  still  speak  to 
some  careless  heart  of  Him.  It  may  fall  on 
the  little  seed  which  no  human  e}Te  can  be- 
hold ;  the  thirsty  ground  is  prepared  for  it ; 
it  ma}7  sparkle  on  the  rock,  or  be  lost  to  sight 
in  the  rivulet ;  it  is  the  same  sunbeam,  the 
same  rain  of  heaven.     (Job  xxxviii.  26,  27.) 

I  know  how  often  I  need  to  be  reminded 
of  this  myself,  by  my  many  sorrowful  fail- 
ures, and  by  the  blessing  which  has  ever 
followed  my  desire  to  walk  according  to  the 
"  new  commandment." 

u  God  is  love  !  "  and  if  we  know  Him,  and 


132  LOVE  DID  IT. 

have  fellowship  with  His  Son,  He  will  give 
us  out  of  His  treasury  all  that  is  necessary 
for  us  to  warm  our  loveless  hearts.  The 
heart  of  Jesus  must  have  been  sad  indeed, 
when  two  of  His  dear  disciples  comprehended 
so  little  of  His  divine  message  as  to  desire 
fire  from  heaven  to  consume  the  cold-hearted 
Samaritans  who  refused  to  receive  Him  and 
His  little  band.  "  Ye  know  not  what  manner 
of  spirit  ye  are  of ;  for  the  Son  of  man  is  not 
come  to  destroy  men's  lives,  but  to  save 
them,"  was  His  gentle  reproof. 

See  the  perfect  walk  of  the  meek  and 
lowly  Master  in  that  Pharisee's  house,  where 
He  (the  Lord  of  glory)  was  denied  the  com- 
mon courtesy  offered  to  the  meanest  stranger 
in  Eastern  countries !  He  did  not  quit  that 
roof  (as  well  He  might)  under  which  so  little 
hospitality  had  been  extended  to  Him.  He 
waited  until  He  could  leave  the  lesson  He 
went  to  impart,  the  blessing  He  was  ready 
to  bestow  ;  and  then  He  spoke,  first  in  a  sim- 
ple parable,  and  afterwards  in  gentle  exhorta- 
tion, to  Flis  ungracious  host.     (Luke  vii.  44.) 


LOVE   DID  IT.  135 

Richer  entertainment  awaited  the  Heavenly 
Guest  of  Simon  of  Bethany  than  angels 
could  have  furnished !  for  the  tears  and 
sweet  odors  of  a  loving,  broken-hearted  sin- 
ner were  poured  out  in  profusion  on  those 
beloved  feet,  so  soon  to  be  pierced  and  bleed- 
ing! The  Saviour  could  well  forego  the 
neglect  and  suspicion  of  the  self-righteous 
Pharisee  ! 

So  when  Peter  fell,  it  was  the  look  of  love 
which  restored  him :  he  denied  his  Lord  no 
more  ;  and  if  in  his  after  life  of  faithful  dis- 
cipleship  the  memory  of  his  fall  rose  before 
him,  as  doubtless  it  did  (compare  1  Peter  ii. 
22-24),  the  tender  affection  and  pitiful  sym- 
pathy which  that  remembered  glance  compre- 
hended, must  have  flooded  the  soul  of  the 
rash  but  ardent-hearted  disciple  with  its  re- 
viving beams,  and  strengthened  him  in  laying 
down  the  life  he  had  once  so  heedlessly 
offered  for  that  Master's  sake. 

Kind  words,  and  smiles,  and  little  thought- 
ful services  to  the  unloving  and  the  unlovely 
may  be  counted  as  nothing,  less  than  nothing, 


134  LOVE  DID  IT. 

by  the  world ;  but  they  are  costly  in  the 
Bight  of  Him  "  who  seeth  not  as  man  seeth." 
He  beholds  the  blood  of  Jesus,  the  love  of 
His  dear  Son,  softening  the  heart  naturally 
hard  as  the  nether  millstone.  He  has  heard 
the  cry  that  ascended  for  patient  forbearance, 
and  has  seen  the  inward  glance  on  the  Lamb 
slain,  before  which  no  evil  thing  can  live. 
And  many  such  day  by  day  cast  these  their 
mites  intp  the  hidden  treasury ;  dear  are  they 
to  Him  whose  name  and  essence  is  Love. 
There  are  some  to  whom  self-devotedness  in 
this  service  is  less  a  free-will  offering  than  to 
others ;  and,  generally  speaking,  these  are 
those  from  whom  the  sacrifice  may  not  so 
often  be  required.  Let  not  those  who  are 
called  to  bear  this  special  cross  imagine  that 
they  are  singled  out  for  peculiar  chastening, 
as  though  some  strange  thing  had  happened 
to  them.  Each  receives  discipline,  whether 
it  is  used  to'  act  on  a  nature  hard,  sharp, 
and  inflexible,  or  one  feeble  and  vacillate 
ing.  There  is  a  way  to  meet  each  need.  I 
never  knew  of  but  one  by  which  the  lion  may 


LOVE  DID  IT.  135 

lie  down  with  the  lamb,  and  a  little  child 
may  lead  them,  even  the  holy  child  Jesus. 
It  is  just  realizing  our  oneness  with  Him  who 
is  power,  wisdom,  holiness,  and  love  ! 

Who  has  not  experienced  the  influence  of 
a  loving  and  beloved  friend,  when  the  jarred 
nerves  and  overstrained  brain  are  revenging 
themselves  by  querulous  retorts  and  fretful 
murmurs?  Who  does  not  remember  the 
glance  of  love,  the  soft,  cool  touch  of  some 
dear  hand  upon  the  aching,  fevered  brow  in 
those  hours  of  soul-sickness?  How  uncon- 
sciously its  silent  tenderness  soothes  the  ruf- 
fled spirit,  and  stills  the  hasty  words,  or  half- 
rejection  of  its  kindly  office !  Well,  if  you 
can  call  Jesus  "  Friend,"  this  is  always  yours 
to  give  and  receive.  Realize  all  a  mother's 
love  a  thousand-fold;  add  the  tender  wife's 
devotedness ;  the  faithful  sister's  gentlest 
sympathy ;  the  friend  partaking  of  each  who 
has  shared  the  deepest  in  your  sorrows  and 
your  joys ;  and  then,  if  you  3an  do  this,  you 


136  LOVE  DID  IT. 

have  only  the  faintest  shadow  of  that  lova 
that  never  changes  nor  grows  cold. 

Oh,  loveless  heart!  how  quick  to  resent, 
how  slow  to  show  forth  the  love  that  dwelleth 
richly  in  thee !  Wilt  thou  cast  away  as 
worthless  thy  gold,  or  let  it  lie  cankered  iu 
the  coffer,  because  senseless  ones  know  not 
its  value  ?  Rather  dwell  continuously  in  the 
pavilion  of  peace,  in  which  the  realized  pres- 
ence of  Jesus  thy  Lord  shelters  thee  !  Then 
shalt  thou  read  therein  the  renewed  evidence 
of  a  Father's  love,  and  show  forth  the  power 
on  those  brought  within  its  influence. 

The  exercise  of  long-suffering  may  bear 
the  sympathy  of  Jesus  only ;  the  work  of 
patience-perfecting  may  be  sharp ;  the  fur- 
nace fires  may  be  heated  beyond  their  wont ; 
the  self-denial  to  the  will  may  be  a  keen 
wrestle  of  the  flesh;  but  it  is  all  known 
to  Him. 

A  dear  and  suffering  Christian  friend  of 
my  own,  on  a  bed  of  sickness  which  has  now 
proved  the  portal  of  heaven,  shrank  for  a 


LOVE  DTD  IT.  IS"' 

while  from  the  prospect  of  prolonged  anguish 
which  opened  before  her.  In  the  vision  of 
the  morning,  as  she  lay  in  her  bed,  there  ap- 
peared to  her  a  minute  crown,  twined  here 
and  there  with  thorns,  and  by  the  side  of  this 
tiny  ensign  of  the  Saviour's  deep,  abounding 
love  lay  another  crown,  composed  wholly  of 
thorns,  large,  murderous  spines,  such  as 
doubtless  composed  the  wreath  of  painful 
mockery  that  bound  the  brow  of  the  holy  Son 
of  God.  "I  thought,"  said  my  friend,  "'the 
angels  might  have  brought  it ;  for  some  one 
seemed  to  say,  pointing  to  the  large,  heavy 
crown,  'I  wore  this  for  thee ;  wear  thou  thine 
for  me ; '  "  and  meekly  she  bent  her  head, 
and  wore  the  wreath,  and  now  she  has  laid  it 
by  for  the  crown  for  which  she  waits.  Count 
not  the  scars  of  the  thorns,  nay,  count  them 
not  scars,  but  mouldings  of  infinite  beauty, 
which  shall  show  forth  fairer  in  the  temple 
of  the  Lord  for  each  touch  of  the  Master's 
hand.  Oh,  my  friend,  it  is  not  an  enemy  that 
hath  arisen  in  the  night  to  spoil  the  great 
masterpiece  — 

"  LOVE  DID  IT  !  " 


138  LOVE  DID  IT. 


THE    AVENGER. 

"mine  eve  also  shall  see  my  desire  on  mine  enemies,  and  mink 
ears  shall  hear  my  desire  of  the  wicked  that  rise  up 
against   me." — Psalm  xcii.  II. 

Yea,  though  I  wait  for  weary  days,  and  seem  to  pray 

in  vain, 
Strong  in  Thy  faithfulness,  O  Lord,  I  come  to  Thee 

again. 
My  foes  are  Thine,  and   I,  bowed  down,  upon  Thy 

promise  rest, 
The  Helper  of  the  helpless,  Thou,  the  God  of  the 

oppressed ! 

Thine  is  the  sword  !     Thou  bad'st  it  smite  ;  this  blunts 

its  edge  for  me  : 
And  I,  through  Him  for  sinners  slain,  shall  more  than 

conqueror  be. 
Fight  Thou  'gainst  them  that  'gainst  me  strive,  plead 

Thou  my  cause,  O  Lord  ! 
And  on  this  battle-field  be  Thou  my  Buckler,  Spear, 

and  Sword. 

Thou,  mightiest  to  save  !  to  Thee  all  grace,  all  power 

belongs ; 
Thou  hast  my  many  sins  forgiven ;  forgive,  O  Lord,  my 

wrongs. 
Thy  murderers  in  hate  arrayed,  did  first  Thy  pity  meet, 
And  I,  my  enemies  would  bring  as  trophies  to  Thy  feet. 


LOVE  DTD  IT.  139 

Forgive  !  for  them  on  Calvary's  mount  Thy  precious 

blood  was  spilt ; 
From  Sinai's  thunders  save  them  yet,  and  cancel  all 

their  guilt. 
Forgive  !  for,  oh,  one  glance  of  Thine  the  hardest  heart 

can  move, 
Draw  them  beneath  the  quenchless  beam  of  one  sweet 

look  of  love. 

Each  hand,  in  fierce  array  opposed,  shall  strike  but  at 

Thy  will, 
The  words  that  wound,  the  storms  that  burst,  Thy  wise 

decrees  fulfil. 
As  the  frail  bulrush  to  the  breeze  its  spear-like  beauty 

bends, 
So  let  Thy  Spirit  o'er  them  sweep,  and  change  my  foes 

to  friends. 

O  Lord,  the  night  is  waning  fast,  the  dawn  comes  on 

apace, 
Not  shortened  is  Thine  hand  to  save,  not  past  the  day 

of  grace  ; 
Grant  broken,   bleeding,   contrite    hearts   to  all  who 

'gainst  me  rise, 
So  let  me  see  my  heart's  desire  upon  mine  enemies  I 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 


"Be  of  good  comfort,  rise;  he  calleth  thee.     And  he, 
casting  away    his   garment,   rose,  and   came  to 

Jesus And  immediately    he  received  his 

sight,  and  followed  Jesus  i?i  the  way"  —  Mark  x. 
49-52.  \ 


,  rilEX  will  you  accept  Christ  as  your 
jLjLk  Saviour?"  inquired  a  lady  of  her 
servant,  a  young  Swiss,  busily  employed  in 
polishing  the  floor,  which  in  the  principal 
houses  in  Switzerland  and  Germany  is  inlaid 
with  various-colored  woods,  in  place  of  the 
carpets  to  which  we  are  accustomed  in  Eng- 
land. 

The  young  man  thus  addressed  raised  his 
head,  and  pausing  in  his  work,  replied,  "  No, 
I  have  not  accepted  Christ  as  my  Saviour; 

141 


142      BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

but,  oh,  I  long  to  be  saved  before  it  is  too 
late  —  too  late  —  too  late  !  " 

The  last  words  were  broken  by  stifled  sobs, 
and  his  tears  burst  forth  unrestrained.  He 
dropped  the  implements  with  which  he  had 
been  engaged  in  his  work,  and  wrung  his 
hands  in  anguish ;  then  clasping  them  de- 
spairingly, he  looked  upwards  as  if  imploring 
pardon. 

"  O  Christian,  what  joyful  tidings !  "  ex- 
claimed the  lady.  "  Once  you  received  every 
invitation  of  the  Saviour  with  indifference, 
because  you  felt  no  need  of  pardon  ;  but  now 
you  realize  that  you  are  lost,  your  heart  de- 
sires Him  who  came  to  seek  and  to  save  the 
lost." 

"  I  am  overwhelmed  with  the  depth  of  my 
sins,"  said  the  young  Swiss  despondingly.  "  I 
can  see  nothing  else.  I  have  lived  more  than 
a  year  under  your  roof,  madam.  I  have  lis- 
tened to  prayer  and  faithful  exhortation,  and 
I  have  cared  nothing  for  my  soul,  nothing  for 
my  Saviour." 

The  distress  of  his  face  as  he  pronounced 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.       145 

these  last  words  showed  the  principal  feature 
of  his  contrition :  it  was  his  Saviour  whom 
he  had  slighted  and  rejected. 

One  evening  in  the  early  spring  the  family 
had  been  aroused  by  frantic  cries  proceed- 
ing from  an  upper  room,  from  the  nurse  of 
the  little  infant.  She  had  left  the  nursery, 
and  by  the  light  of  the  moon  that  shone 
through  the  uncurtained  window  of  the  ad- 
joining chamber,  she  declared  that  a  frightful 
ghost  had  arisen  and  passed  before  her. 

Her  excitement  was  such  that  the  child  was 
taken  from  her  charge,  and  a  strict  watch 
kept  over  her  during  the  night.  The  results 
threatened  to  be  serious. 

Much  prayer  arose  from  the  family  for  pru- 
dence and  light  to  guide  in  the  path  of  per- 
plexity that  had  suddenly  opened  before 
them ;  for  all  the  first  symptoms  of  brain- 
fever  were  now  manifest  in  the  nurse.  The 
Lord  had  promised  that  "  all  things  "  should 
work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
Him  ;  and  the  constant  desire  and  prayer  of 


144  BEFORE  IT  IS   TOO  LATE. 

all  was  that  by  His  infinite  power  these  unto 
ward  events  might  work  for  His  glory. 

The  following  morning  the  mistress  of  the 
family  questioned  each  member  of  the  house- 
hold apart  on  this  mysterious  appearance. 
From  many  circumstances  it  appeared  clear  to 
all  that  Christian  was  the  culprit.  The  lady 
proceeded  to  speak  to  him  privately,  and  if 
possible  to  lead  him  to  confess,  not  only  for 
his  own  sake,  but  to  calm  the  fears  of  the 
poor  nurse,  whose  terror  gradually  heightened 
to  a  distressing  crisis  every  evening  at  the 
same  hour,  and  rendered  her  remaining  in  the 
capacity  of  nurse  a  position  of  difficulty  and 
danger. 

The  Lord  was  answering,  though  as  yet  no 
sign  was  given  that  He  had  heard. 

Christian  burst  into  tears,  and  after  a  few 
minutes'  silence,  confessed  that  he  had  dis- 
guised himself,  and,  concealed  in  the  shadow 
of  the  long,  narrow  room,  had  waited  quietly 
until  he  heard  the  footstep  of  the  nurse, 
when  he  darted  forth  into  the  moonlight,  and 
confronted  the  terrified  woman,  whose  screams 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.      145 

brought  others  to  the  scene,  when  he  fled. 
He  went  on  to  say  that  he  had  not*  slept  foi 
anguish  of  heart,  and  that  he  had  prayed  that 
the  poor  girl  might  be  restored.  His  misery 
through  the  night  had  been  used  to  break  his 
stubborn  heart.  It  was  a  cry  of  despair.  It 
was  not  unheard  ;  for  it  trusted  in  the  power 
of  the  Saviour,  of  whom  he  had  so  often 
heard,  but  whose  love  he  had  until  then  re- 
jected. The  anxiety  for  the  nurse,  whose 
precarious  state  involved  the  well-being  of  the 
infant  in  her  charge,  and  the  state  of  suspense 
in  which  the  family  remained,  contributed  to 
bring  Christian  at  last,  a  broken-hearted  sin- 
ner, to  the  feet  of  the  Saviour.  With  a 
heavy  heart  he  had  driven  some  of  the  family 
to  the  railway  station  for  a  lengthened  ab- 
sence, and  he  returned  to  the  house  in  so 
much  depression,  that  one  of  the  family  who 
was  left,  was  struck  by  his  sadness,  and  sent 
him  word  that  she  would  gladly  read  and 
pray  with  him  soon,  but  at  that  time  was 
occupied.  But  in  touching  earnestness  he 
replied: 

10 


146      BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

44  Oh,  let  it  be  soon,  mademoiselle,  let  it  be 
soon,  if  you  please  I  " 

"I  read  to  him,"  said  my  friend,  "Isa.  liii. 
6 :  4  All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray ;  we 
have  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way ; '  and 
then  J  paused,  and  asked  him  if  he  believed 
this  to  be  true.  He  assented ;  but  when  I 
went  on  to  the  last  part  of  the  verse,  4  and  the 
Lord  hath  laid  on  Him  the  iniquity  of  us  allf 
and  inquired  if  he  thought  that  was  true  also, 
he  was  silent. 

"  I  turned  to  1  Peter  ii.  24,  4  Who  His  own 
self  bare  our  sins  in  His  own  body  on  the 
tree,  that  we,  being  dead  to  sins,  should  live 
unto  righteousness :  by  whose  stripes  ye  were 
healed.* 

u  Still  no  response  ;  but  the  same  expres- 
sion of  despair.  By  way  of  making  it  clearer 
by  illustration,  I  said,  4  If  God  should  take 
the  burden  of  sin  which  is  now  upon  you,  and 
put  it  on  this  chair  in  front  of  you,  could  it 
be  on  the  chair  and  on  you  at  the  same  time? 
And  if   God  the  Father  tells  us  that  He  has 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.      147 

taken  our  sins  and  laid  them  on  Jesus,  shall 
we  not  believe  that  "  He  hath  made  Him 
to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin,  that  we 
miirht  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in 
Him  "?'  (2  Cor.  v.  21.)  His  face  brightened 
at  once,  and  he  replied  joyfully : 

414 Yes;  I  can  and  do  believe  that  Jesus 
has  borne  all  my  sins  away.  Yes ;  He  died 
on  the  cross  for  me  also. ' 

"  The  burden  was  gone.  He  went  on  to 
tell  me  of  a  dream  he  had  the  preceding  night. 
He  was  walking  through  a  forest  with  some 
of  his  companions,  when  the  trunk  of  a  large 
and  beautiful  fir-tree  in  his  path  suddenly 
opened,  and  two  large  branches,  like  arms, 
extended  to  receive  him.  As  he  turned  away 
from  it,  it  closed ;  but  when  he  returned,  it 
opened  as  before.  This  he  interpreted  as 
being  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  waiting  to  re- 
ceive him  if  he  would  go  ;  but  if  he  again 
went  away  it  would  be  too  late. 

"  I  then  read  to  him  John  v.  24 :  *  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  heareth  my 
word,  and  believeth  on  Him  that  sent  me, 


148  BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE." 

hath  everlasting  life,  and  shall  not  come  into 
condemnation  ;  but  is -passed  from  death  unto 
life  ; '  also  John  i.  12 :  '  As  many  as  received 
Him,  to  them  gave  He  power  to  become  the 
sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on 
His  name.'  4  Being  justified  by  faith,  we 
have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.'     (Rom.  v.  1.) 

"  All  these  precious  assurances  in  God's  own 
Word  he  was  enabled  to  receive  into  his  heart 
by  faith.  Together  we  thanked  God  for  hav- 
ing put  all  his  sins  away  by  the  blood  of  Jesus, 
and  that,  clothed  in  His  righteousness,  there 
was  now  no  condemnation  for  him.  He  was 
now  at  peace  with  God ;  he  had  passed  from 
death  unto  life. 

"  Before  he  left  me,  I  asked  him  what  had 
made  him  first  begin  to  think  he  was  lost. 
He  replied,  that  his  cousin,  a  young  Christian 
in  the  household,  resolutely  refused  to  com- 
bine with  the  other  servants  in  customs  which 
were  neither  honorable  nor  honest  to  their 
employers.  Also,  he  said  he  thanked  God  for 
bringing  him  into  a  family  where  Christ  was 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.      149 

Bet  forth  faithfully  before  the  servants,  and 
the  Scriptures  read  daily  and  commented  on. 

"  ■  Had  I  remained  with  my  former  master,' 
he  said,  4 1  might  never  have  heard  of  these 
things,  never  have  come  to  Jesus,  or  known 
His  love  to  poor  sinners  like  me.' 

M  He  left  me  full  of  trust  and  joy  in  the 
Saviour  ;  and  I  little  thought  how  brief  would 
be  his  life  and  testimony.  During  the  many 
occasions  I  had  of  praying  with  him,  and 
reading  God's  Word  with  him,  during  the 
following  weeks,  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  ever 
crossed  his  mind.  His  face  was  lighted  up 
with  a  holy  joy,  which  testified  to  all  those 
who  came  in  contact  with  him,  that  Christ 
Jesus  had  taken  possession  of  that  heart,  in 
which  hatred  and  jealousy  and  envy  had  long 
reigned. 

"  The  Bible  was  indeed  a  light  and  a  lamp  to 
him.  He  listened  in  eagerness  for  every  new 
promise,  that  he  might  appropriate  it  to  him- 
self ;  and  as  I  paused  on  one  and  another,  and 
told  him  that  what  Jesus  was  for  His  people 
now,   He   would  be  for  ever,  his  face,  like  a 


150       BEFOEE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

child's,  said  as  plainly  as  his  words,  '  And  all 
this  for  me!'  4  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul ! ' 
"  As  he  left  me  at  our  latest  interview,  he 
said,  4 1  have  been  so  refreshed  and  encour- 
aged. I  could  sing  all  day  long,  did  I  not 
think  of  the  unconverted;  and  then  I  can 
hardly  refrain  from  weeping.'  " 

The  very  week  that  he  believed  in  the  good 
news  of  salvation,  he  desired  to  spread  it  far 
and  wide.  His  great  concern  was  first  for  his 
mother,  and  long  he  prayed,  and  asked  me  to 
pray,  before  he  wrote  to  her  to  invite  her  to 
partake  of  the  gospel  feast.  To  his  great 
delight  he  found  that  she  believed.  Then  he 
was  led  to  invite  two  young  converts  to  join 
him  in  gathering  their  former  companions  to 
a  little  meeting  on  Sunday ;  and  though  he 
never  succeeded  in  collecting  more  than  two 
or  three  together,  yet  the  blessing  that  fell  on 
his  own  soul,  from  the  prayerful  reading  and 
meditation  on  the  Word  of  God  to  instruct 
them,  advanced  him  in  the  knowledge  of  Him 
whom  he  desired  to  serve. 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.      151 

Diligent  as  he  was,  he  could  hardly  find 
time  to  do  all  he  desired ;  yet  with  all 
this,  and  without  neglecting  any  duty,  he 
visited  and  read  to  a  poor  sick  man  in  the 
village.  I  saw  one  of  the  letters  he  had 
written  to  a  relative,  closing  with,  "  I  dare 
say  you  will  laugh  at  me  for  what  I  have 
written,  but  I  am  constrained  to  do  so  while 
I  can,  before  it  is  too  late."  I  scarcely  re- 
member to  have  heard  him  pray  through 
these  last  weeks  without  his  closing  his 
prayer  with  thanksgiving  that  the  Lord  had 
graciously  saved  him  before  it  was  "  too 
late  ; "  yet  we  knew  not  that  his  departure 
was  nigh. 

On  the  Friday  the  subject  dwelt  on  at 
family  worship  was  "  Prayer,  and  the  faithful- 
ness of  God  in  answering  the  prayers  of  His 
people."  He  said  at  the  close:  "I  have  not 
yet  succeeded  in  assembling  the  boys  together 
for  our  meeting  on  Sunday  evening.  I  see 
how  it  is,  I  have  not  prayed  about  it  as  I 
ought.  They  promise  me  to  come,  and  I 
expect  them,  but  they  never  come ;  I  must 


152      BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

pray  that  they  may  keep  their  promise. "  It 
was  his  last  Sunday  on  earth. 

He  had  asked  me  to  seek  for  several  an- 
swers to  prayer  out  of  God's  Word,  to  help 
him  and  his  friends  the  following  week ;  and 
while  I  was  engaged  in  this  pleasant  task,  I 
was  called  away  to  hear  that  he  had  exchanged 
prayer  for  praise,  and  service  for  rest.  That 
morning  there  was  such  an  expression  of  ce- 
lestial joy  on  his  face  after  family  worship 
that  every  one  remarked  it.  The  reading 
and  commentary  had  been  on  the  love  of 
Jesus  ;  and  truly  that  love,  shed  abroad  in  his 
heart  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  irradiated  his  whole 
being.  In  less  than  an  hour  he  was  in  the 
presence  of  Him  whose  love  had  been  the 
source  of  this  unutterable  joy. 

He  paused  at  the  door  to  inquire  of  his 
mistress  if  the  carriage  would  be  required 
before  the  afternoon ;  if  not,  that  he  desired 
to  take  the  horses  to  bathe.  The  lady  replied 
that  he  might  do  so.  She  could  not  but  re- 
mark the  earnestness  of  his  few  delighted 
words  on    the    substance   of   what  had  been 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.       153 

spoken  that  morning.  He  added,  "Never 
since  my  conversion  have  I  felt  such  joy  as 
now  fills  my  soul."  Then  he  went  forth,  and 
we  saw  him  no  more.  How  precious  was  the 
living  testimony  he  left  for  our  comfort !  He 
had  found  rest  in  the  Shepherd's  bosom  be- 
fore the  wild  waters  of  the  Rhone  had  carried 
him  from  our  sight. 

It  was  a  summer's  day,  the  24th  of  June. 
The  richly-wooded  mountains  rose  in  gran- 
deur, and  the  blue  Rhone,  darting  and  dash- 
ing in  its  rapid  course,  rushed  through  the 
valley,  enlivening  the  whole  scene  with  its 
cheerful  voice  and  sparkling  waters.  The 
large  walnut-trees  were  almost  golden  in  the 
bright  sunshine ;  the  orchards  and  the  glow- 
ing flower-plots  all  were  in  the  glory  of  sum- 
mer. There  was  no  cloud  in  the  sky,  no 
shadow  on  the  spirits  of  those  who  had 
parted  with  him  who  went  forth  to  return  no 
more.  But,  like  the  avalanche  that  falls 
often  in  the  sunny  noon,  or  in  the  stillness  of 
the  setting  sun,  we  know  not  at  what  houi 


154      BEFOEB  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

destruction  may  come,  or  what  awaits  the 
foot  that  crosses  the  threshold  with  its  glad, 
elastic  tread,  set  on  service  for  the  Lord  of 
the  harvest,  or  one  going  forth  to  do  the  bid- 
ding of  the  adversary  of  souls,  to  perish  for 
ever. 

All  in  the  household  went  on  as  usual, 
when  there  was  a  stranger's  step  upon  the 
gravel  walk  that  led  to  one  of  the  principal 
rooms;  a  loud,  hurried  knock  for  admittance; 
a  still  more  rapid  utterance  ;  and  all  was  told. 

One  hour  before,  Christian  had,  as  he  pro- 
posed, taken  one  of  the  horses  to  bathe.  The 
bank  of  silver  sand  still  bore  the  impress  of 
the  horse's  hoofs,  evidently  reluctant  to  enter 
the  water.  Once,  twice,  thrice  it  wag  clear 
that  the  animal  had  strongly  resisted,  and 
then  breasted  the  rushing  wave,  swollen  and 
turbid  by  the  melting  snow  of  the  mountains. 
The  next  moment  the  rapid  Rhone  ingulfed 
horse  and  rider  like  a  whirlpool,  and  they 
were  seen  no  more.  All  this  was  witnessed 
on  the  bridge  near  at  hand.  Preparations 
weie  made  at  the  chateau,  with  the  vain  hope 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.  155 

of  restoration  when  he  should  be  brought  in. 
The  sunny  day  closed,  but  no  tidings  of 
Christian.  The  faint  expectation  was  cher- 
ished that  possibly  he  might  have  been  res- 
cued, and  carried  to  a  chalet  on  the  border  of 
Lake  Leman;  but  as  night  drew  on,  even  that 
last  hope  vanished. 

The  dead  horse  was  thrown  up  two  days 
afterwards,  some  miles  distant  from  the  spot. 
But  three  long  weeks  of  waiting  passed  be- 
fore the  remains  of  Christian  were  cast  up  by 
the  waters  of  the  lake  on  the  shore  of  Ville- 
neuve,  where  in  the  little  cemetery  they 
await  the  manifestation  of  the  sons  of  God. 
It  was  a  time  of  mourning  through  the  whole 
village,  and  it  was  only  then  we  learned  to 
how  many  he  had  spoken  of  the  Lord,  urging 
them  in  the  same  strain  to  come  M  before  it  is 
too  late."  He  took  -leave  of  the  youths  with 
whom  he  had  read  and  prayed  the  preceding 
Sunday:  " Adieu  until  next  Sunday."  His 
last  words  came  to  them  with  power  as  a 
message  from  God! 

How  little  could  we  all  foresee  that  in  less 


156       BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

than  a  quarter  of  a  year  from  the  time  the 
lost  sheep  was  found,  his  brief  hour  of  testi- 
mony and  service  would  close ! 

Dear  reader,  there  is  yet  time!  Eternity 
lies  before  you  —  an  endless  life,  with  its 
boundless  joys,  in  the  presence  of  Him  who 
calls  you  even  to-day ;  or  eternity  with  the 
worm  that  never  dies,  and  the  fire  that  is  not 
quenched.  (Mark  ix.  45.)  "  Choose  you  this 
day  whom  ye  will  serve."  Receive  ye  the 
"  rift  of  God  "  or  the  "  wages  of  sin  "  ?  Ever- 
l.tsting  punishment,  or  life  eternal? 

Christian  was  the  only  son  of  a  poor  widow 
in  one  of  the  northern  cantons  of  Switzer- 
land. By  means  of  many  privations  and 
hard  labor  on  her  part,  she  brought  him  up 
in  his  childhood  to  the  best  of  her  ability; 
but  at  last,  the  better  to  provide  for  him,  she 
took  the  place  of  a  servant.  The  child  was 
thus  thrown  on  the  care  of  strangers,  and 
lacking  the  tenderness  of  a  mother's  love,  his 
naturally  proud  spirit  became  obstinate,  im- 
patient  of  restraint,    and   full   of  suspicion, 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.       157 

finding  in  every  one  neglect  and  unkindness. 
He  fondly  loved  the  mother  whom  he  saw 
but  seldom.  He  knew  that  it  was  for  his 
sake  she  had  taken  a  place  of  service.  It 
pressed  upon  his  affectionate  regard  for  her ; 
and  in  order  to  relieve  her  of  the  burden  of 
his  own  maintenance,  he  engaged  himself  as 
a  farm  laborer  when  little  more  than  a  boy ; 
but  the  wages  were  so  low  that  they  barely 
sufficed  for  his  own  necessities. 

He  was  about  twenty  years  old  when  his 
cousin,  a  housemaid  in  a  Christian  family, 
procured  for  him  the  situation  of  coachman, 
and  thus  brought  him  under  the  teaching  of 
the  gospel;  and  here  for  the  first  time  he 
heard  the  blessed  news  of  the  grace  of  God, 
which  changed  his  life  of  bitterness  and 
hardness  into  joy  and  peace. 

He  showed  great  aptitude  in  qualifying 
himself  for  the  place,  and  was  so  diligent  in 
informing  himself  of  everything  relative  to 
his  duties,  that  he  became  a  truly  valuable 
servant,  as  far  as  his  work  was  concerned; 
but  his  pride,  self-love,  and  obstinacy  seemed 


158      BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

only  to  strengthen  as  he  became  sensible  of 
his  own  acquirements.  It  was  not  until  he 
had  learned  to  live  unto  the  Lord,  that  the 
service  he  confessed  to  find  hard  became  easy 
and  pleasant,  under  the  gentle  yoke  of  the 
heavenly  Master,  who  had  said,  "  Learn  of 
Me."  Although  in  vigorous  health,  the  brev- 
ity and  uncertainty  of  life  seemed  ever  pres- 
ent to  him  ;  and  never  was  he  heard  to  pray 
but  he  ended  in  praise  for  the  precious  time 
granted  him  to  tell  of  a  Saviour's  love,  and 
lead  others  to  the  same  happy  confidence  in 
the  promises  of  God. 

Many  verses,  particularly  on  the  precious- 
ness  of  Jesus,  were  found  marked  in  his 
Bible.  From  first  to  last  the  grace  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  came  to  seek  and  save  him, 
was  his  one  glad  theme. 

May  the  oft-repeated  warning  from  the  lips 
of  the  faithful  watchman  come  with  a  trum- 
pet sound  to  some  slumbering,  cold,  rebellious 
heart,  "  The  long-suffering  of  the  Lord  is 
salvation."     Day  waneth;  the  night  cometh. 


BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE.      159 

Come   before   it  is   too   late !    too  late !   too 
late! 

"  If  the  Son  therefore  shall  make  you  free, 
ye  shall  be  free  indeed."    (John  viii.  36.) 

Oh,  lost  ones,  return  ye  !  return  ye  ! 

For  why  will  ye  die  ? 
One  wilderness  opens  around  you, 

Another  is  nigh. 
No  light  in  death's  shadow  awaits  ye  ! 

No  peace  reigneth  there  ! 
No  balm  for  your  wound  and  your  weakness  ! 

No  rest  for  your  care  ! 

Ye  lone  ones,  ye  sad  ones,  ye  lost  ones, 

The  night  wanes  apace  ! 
Dark  terrors  have  gathered  around  you  ; 

The  message  of  grace, 
That  had  freed  you  from  death's  darksome  prison, 

Is  offered  no  more  ; 
The  Lord  of  the  feast  is  uprisen, 

And  closed  is  the  door ! 

To-day  there  is  time  !     He  beholdeth 

But  one  glance  above  ! 
Break,  break,  stubborn  heart !  there  await  thee 

Swift  answers  of  love  — 


160       BEFORE  IT  IS  TOO  LATE. 

Sweet  sounds  'mid  the  songs  of  the  angels  — 

"  Let  him  go  free  /  " 
Go  lean  on  the  heart  that  was  broken  — 

Broken  for  thee. 

"  God  sent  not  His  Son  into  the  world  to 
condemn  the  world;  but  that  the  world 
through  Him  might  be  saved.  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  Him  is  not  condemned:  but  he 
that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already, 
because  he  hath  not  believed  in  the  name  of 
the  only-begotten  Son  of  God."  (John  iii. 
17,  18.) 


THE  NEW  SIXPENCE; 


OB, 


"GOD   IS   GOOD!   GOD   IS   LOVE! 


>X*c 


u  The  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of  the  air  have 
nests ;  but  the  Son  of  Man  hath  not  where  to  lay 
His  heady — Matt.  viii.  20. 

"My  son,  give  me  thine  heart,  and  let  thine  eyes  ob- 
serve My  ways."  —  Prov.  xxiii.  26. 


TpVEAD  the  Word  of  God  from  Genesis 
aA&4  to  Revelation,  and  you  will  see  that 
one  thread  runs  through  all :  "  God  is  good ; 
God  is  love."  These  words  contained  a  germ 
of  strength  and  revival  to  the  writer  when 
setting  forth  on  her  pilgrimage,  coming  as 
they  did  from  the  lips  of  a  dearly  loved  and 
honored  servant  of  the  Lord  in  a  brief  part- 
11  1G1 


162  THE  NEW  SIXPENCE. 

ing  interview.  The  winged  words  fled  forth 
like  birds  to  their  home,  and  from  that  hour 
have  nestled  in  the  heart  to  which  the  Holy 
Spirit  guided  them. 

In  various  dark  and  perplexing  wilderness 
paths,  when  "  neither  sun  nor  stars  for  many- 
days  appeared,  and  no.  small  tempest  was 
around,"  they  have  solved  many  a  difficulty, 
and  dispelled  unbelief,  with  their  sweet  song 
in  the  night. 

Give  them  entrance  into  thy  heart,  dear 
reader,  and  hear  what  God  the  Lord  may 
speak  by  them;  but  if  thou  dost  not  bid 
them  welcome,  may  they  wait,  like  doves,  at 
the  window,  with  folded  wings  of  hope  and 
faith,  ready  to  enter  thy  soul,  when  thou  hast 
found  a  place  therein  where  the  Son  of  man 
may  lay  His  head. 

"  God  is  good  !  God  is  very  good !  "  The 
words  fell  in  tones  of  admiring  wonder  from 
the  lips  of  a  child  scarcely  five  years  old,  as, 
gazing  from  a  high  casement  window,  alone 
she  watched  the  setting  sun.  Eich  violet 
and  golden   clouds,  like  chariots  with  fiery 


THE  NEW  SIXPENCE.  1G3 

steeds,  seemed  careering  to  the  west,  and  be- 
yond them  the  pale  opal  green  reflection,  like 
a  sea  of  unbroken  light,  imaged  forth  heaven 
to  the  little  lonely  watcher.  Heaven  !  where 
God,  and  the  angels,  and  her  mother  dwelt, 
and  where  some  day  the  motherless  one 
thought  to  lean  again  on  the  tender  breast 
that  had  sheltered  her  infancy. 

She  knew  not  of  the  flaming  sword  at 
Eden's  gate,  that  turned  every  way,  to  keep 
the  way  of  the  Tree  of  Life,  nor  that  the 
children  of  the  exiled  Adam  cannot  pass  it. 
The  white  robe,  washed  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb,  the  white  stone,  the  song  of  "  Abba  " 
in  the  heart,  alone  give  entrance  through  the 
walls  of  Salvation  and  the  gates  of  Praise. 

The  old  house  was  silent,  all  within  seemed 
desolate ;  costly  toys  and  books  lay  scattered 
round,  alike  uncared  for ;  the  young  heart 
was  throbbing  with  strange  feelings;  it  was 
experiencing  its  first  hungry  cry  for  love  and 
sympathy,  which  never  yet  found  rest  but  in 
the  Infinite.  It  was  the  first  whisper  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  to  the  little  one.     "  Give   Mb 


164  THE  NEW  SIXPENCE. 

thine  heart,  and  let  thine  eyes  observe  My 
ways." 

No  mother's  love  soothed  her  childish  sor- 
rows; no  tender  voice  showed  her  the  Sav- 
iour of  little  children,  who  stood  ready  to 
embrace  her,  or  told  her  that  He  had  laid 
down  His  life  for  the  youngest  lamb  of  His 
blood-bought  flock. 

The  topmost  branches  of  the  distant  trees 
were  now  tinged  with  gold,  the  sky  deepened 
into  crimson  glory,  and  the  light  fell  on  the 
upturned  face  where  a  tear  still  glistened. 
"  Beautiful  world  !  beautiful  heaven  !  God 
is  good  !  God  is  very  good  !  I  wish  I  had 
something  to  give  Him  ! "  repeated  the  child 
deliberately.  The  long  wistful  glance  was 
withdrawn  from  the  fair  scene  without,  to  the 
lone  chamber,  gloomy  in  the  coming  twilight, 
and  more  so  from  the  contrast  of  the  bright- 
ness above.  Now  her  eye  ran  over  the  most 
cherished  toy,  the  newest  picture,  and  the 
best-loved  book ;  but  either  they  had  lost 
their  charm,  or  were  in  some  way  unfitted  as 
an  offering ;  she  passed  them  by  with  an  un- 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  165 

satisfied  inspection,  and  stood  lost  in  thought. 
Ah  !  now  she  has  it ;  her  eye  brightens,  and 
the  little  feet  trip  on  the  delightful  errand. 
In  the  innermost  drawer  of  a  cabinet  of  child- 
ish treasures  is  a  sixpence,  new,  bright,  and 
valued,  set  apart  for  special  purchases.  With 
a  cry  of  exultation  she  unfolds  the  new  white 
coin  from  the  paper  which  enwrapped  it  in 
the  tiny  purse,  her  fingers  trembling  with  joy. 
She  exclaims,  "  I  will  giv*e  it  all  to  God ! "  And 
now  kneeling  on  the  footstool,  which  brought 
her  cheek  on  a  level  with  the  casement,  the 
little  one  placed  her  gift  on  the  ledge  of  the 
window,  and  resumed  her  watch,  confidently 
believing  that  as  God  was  "  good,"  and  as  she 
had  given  Him  what  she  valued  most,  so 
assuredly  He  would  accept  that  which  she 
brought  Him.  She  expected  some  white- 
winged  angel  would  cleave  the  amethyst 
clouds,  and  come  down  to  do  the  bidding  of 
Him  who  reigned  above.  But  all  was  still; 
the  glory  slowly  passed  away  from  the  sky, 
and  the  gloom  deepened  ;  no  angel  appeared, 
no  voice  from  heaven  broke  the  silence  ;  but 


166 


THE  NEW  SIXPENCE. 


still  the  child  kept  her  watch  of  faith,  repeat- 
ing at  intervals,  as  if  to  assure  herself  that  all 
was  right,  "  God  is  good  !  " 

A  low  knock  at  the  chamber-door  filled  her 
heart  with  awe,  and  her  eyes  with  tears.  She 
knew  she  should  not  wait  in  vain ;  God  had 
accepted  her  offering,  and  had  sent  for  the 
new  sixpence.  She  took  it  in  her  hand,  noth- 
ing doubting,  and  opening  the  door,  she  be- 
held —  not  an  angel  radiant  in  beauty  —  but 
a  man  bowed  down  with  years  and  infirmities. 
He  stretched  out  his  trembling  hand  (his 
need  was  met  before  it  was  made  known  in 
words),  reverently  was  the  coin  dropped 
within  its  palm  ;  he  blessed  the  child,  she 
closed  the  door,  nor  remained  to  listen  to  the 
departing  steps  of  the  stranger,  but  the  light 
feet  tripped  back  for  one  more  glance  at  the 
last  beam  of  day  that  told  where  the  sun  had 
set. 

Had  she  chosen,  there  would  have  been  the 
angel  visitor  and  the  track  of  glory ;  still  her 
heart  was  satisfied  that  a  messenger  was 
really  sent  at  her  desire,  —  God  had  stooped 


THE  NEW  SIXPENCE.  167 

to  a  little  child's  simplicity;  and  again  and 
again  she  repeated,  as  if  to  comfort  herself 
with  safety  in  the  darkness  and  loneliness 
with  a  memory  of  the  glory  that  had  now 
departed,  u  God  is  good  !  God  is  very  good  !  " 

He  who  heareth  the  cry  of  the  ravens,  and 
the  young  lions  in  the  forest,  honored  the 
simple  trust  of  an  ignorant  little  child  ! 
Lord,  give  us  the  faith  of  little  children  ! 

You  are  inclined  to  smile,  dear  reader,  at 
this  childish  simplicity.  Have  you  no  silver 
sixpence  dearer  than  the  toys  which  have 
ceased  to  charm  you  ?  some  household  god 
that  you  keep  in  the  inner  drawer  of  the 
secret  cabinet  ? 

It  may  be  very  small  in  others'  sight, 
though  very  dear  to  you ;  none  taking  ac- 
count thereof  but  your  own  loving  heart ;  so 
small,  you  hardly  know  if  God  would  accept 
such  an  offering. 

The  great  salvation  may  not  be  a  strange 
story  to  you.  You  may  have  learned  that  five 
sparrows,  sold  for  a  farthing,  have  been  noted 
by  the  eye   that   never  slumbers  or  sleeps 


168  THE  NEW  SIXPENCE. 

and  He  will  not  reject  the  offering  of  a  lov- 
ing heart,  and  yet  you  have  not  brought  it. 

Years  have  gone  by.  The  old  house  is  de- 
serted ;  the  chamber  is  empty  ;  and  men  have 
forgotten  the  name  of  the  child  that  dwelt 
there.  God  has  not  forgotten  ;  God  never  for- 
gets ;  God  is  good  !  The  world's  joy  which 
bringeth  sorrow,  the  world's  sorrow  which 
worketh  death,  and  the  heart's  sins,  and  the 
life's  sins  in  a  soul  that  had  found  no  rest  in 
the  Redeemer,  have  left  no  trace  of  the  hope- 
ful-hearted little  watcher  of  the  sunset  glory. 

There  is  no  beauty  without  now.  The  sky 
is  leaden,  dull,  and  heavy  with  the  smoky 
atmosphere  of  a  great  city ;  the  chirp  of  the 
sparrow  on  the  eaves,  and  the  tramp  of  men 
going  forth  to  their  daily  toil,  are  the  only 
heralds  of  the  early  morning. 

Yet  it  is  the  same  watcher,  and  still  alone ; 
yet  not  alone,  for  she  knoweth  Him  whom  to 
know  is  life  eternal.  (John  xvii.  3.)  The  cab- 
inet in  which  she  is  seeking  holds  untold  gifts 
for  her,  bought  at  the  costly  price  of  the 
Blood    of  the    Lamb  slain.     Her   hands   are 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  169 

empty ;  she  had  nothing  to  bring  but  her 
sins,  which  He  hath  taken  and  cast  into  the 
wilderness  of  forgetfulness,  and  a  new  heart 
is  given  unto  her  for  her  heart  of  stone,  and 
she  is  "  accepted  in  the  Beloved."  She  hath 
Jesus ;  and  "  with  Him  also "  the  Father 
''freely  giveth  all  things." 

Listen  !  you  shall  learn  what  hath  filled'her 
heart  with  thanksgiving,  and  her  lips  with 
praise. 

"  Fear  not :  for  I  have  redeemed  thee,  I 
have  called  thee  by  thy  name  ;  thou  art  Mine. 
When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will 
be  with  thee  ;  and  through  the  rivers,  they 
shall  not  overflow  thee :  when  thou  walkest 
through  the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned ; 
neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.  For 
I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel,  thy  Saviour."  (Isa.  xliii.  1-3.) 

In  faith  she  beholds  a  "beautiful  earth!" 
where  all  things  shall  become  new  ;  "  a  beau- 
tiful heaven ! "  for  the  Lamb  is  the  light 
thereof ! 

The  memory  of  the  silver  sixpence,  laid  in 


170  THE  NEW  SIXPENCE. 

heathen  ignorance  upon  the  altar  of  the  un- 
known God,  rises  before  the  watcher ;  her 
lips  tremble  in  thankful  repetition  of  the 
words  that  formed  her  childhood's  anchor ; 
and  at  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day  she  cries, 
44  God  is  good  !  yea,  God  is  very  good !  God 
is  a  faithful  God  !  God  is  love  ! " 

Dear  reader,  have  you  brought  the  new  six- 
pence to  the  God  of  nature  ?  or  the  broken, 
bleeding,  contrite  heart,  with  all  its  sins  and 
wasted  energies,  its  corrupt  inclinations  and 
abominable  pollution,  to  the  God  of  your  sal- 
vation ? 

"  Our  God  accepteth  the  whole  heart  or  none, 
And  loves  to  heal  the  bleeding,  broken  one." 

Have  you,  then,  given  your  heart  to  Him 
who  gave  His  life  for  you  ?  "  Give "  of 
thine  own  free-will,  otherwise  it  is  no  free 
gift.  "  Me,"  not  another,  not  to  the  world. 
"Me  !"  thy  Saviour,  thy  Friend,  thy  Surety. 
"Thine  heart"  not  thy  money,  nor  thy  time, 
nor  thy  labor  ;  but  that  heart  for  which  I 
have  paid  the  penalty  you  could  not  pay,  the 


THE  NEW  SIXPENCE.  171 

weight  of  the  wrath  of  God,  and  quenched 
the  flaming  sword  of  justice  with  the  Blood 
of  the  Lamb  slain. 

You  may  deceive  the  world,  sometimes  de- 
ceive yourself ;  you  cannot  deceive  God. 
You  may  be  naturally  amiable  and  benevo- 
lent. You  may  have  given  your  money  for 
missions,  your  name  to  subscription  lists,  your 
labor  to  schools  and  committees;  nay,  your 
knowledge  of  Scripture  may  be  not  only 
an  acknowledged  fact,  but  given  for  the 
edification  of  others ;  and  yet  the  Lord 
may  be  pleading  with  you  in  His  love, 
"Give  Me  thine  heart"  and  you  have  not 
done  it. 

It  is  not  your  money  He  asks  for.  The 
gold  and  the  silver  are  His,  and  the  cattle 
upon  a  thousand  hills.  He  can  command  the 
wealth  of  those  who  have  never  even  consid- 
ered the  great  sacrifice.  Your  labor  is  in 
vain,  your  wisdom  is  foolishness  ;  for  until 
they  all  spring  forth  out  of  the  love  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  begets  in  the  new-born  soul,  they 
do   but   grow    from    nature's    root    of   pride, 


172  THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 

which  would  fain  make  God  a  debtor  to  the 
sinner  in  the  work  of  salvation. 

It  is  but  the  fruit  of  the  old  man,  the  thorn 
and  the  blossom  of  the  thistle  of  nature,  alien 
by  the  curse  from  the  new  Adam. 

In  giving  and  in  taking,  the  Lord  is  ever 
pleading.  The  vibration  of  some  chord  in 
your  heart,  in  sympathy  or  admiration  of  His 
works,  may  draw  forth  your  new  sixpence ; 
your  eyes  may  fill  with  tears  as  you  gaze  on 
the  beauties  of  the  green  woodlands,  or  the 
rushing  cataract,  or  the  changing  beauties  of 
the  sky ;  and  you  may  declaim  on  the  good- 
ness of  God ;  nay,  some  cup  of  water,  sought 
even  in  peril  from  the  brook  at  Bethlehem's 
gate  for  a  weary  soldier  of  the  King,  hath  its 
earthly  reward,  and  the  glow  of  pleasure  that 
thrills  your  being  is  a  faint  taste  of  the  joys 
of  the  Kingdom ;  the  holy  Dove  broodeth 
over  the  dark  waters  ;  it  is  a  whisper,  "  Give 
Me  thine  heart" 

<  You  are  brought  back  from  the  Grave's 
gates ;  nights  of  pain  and  days  of  lassitude 
are  exchanged  for  the  sweet  return  of  health: 


THE  NEW  SIXPENCE.  173 

a  new  beauty  seems  to  have  awakened  in  the 
earth,  and  every  sound  has  a  song.  Or  some 
cherished  one  is  restored  to  you,  when  your 
last  hope  had  failed.  Cares,  which  had  for 
years  perplexed  and  harassed  you,  are  sud- 
denly removed,  you  scarce  know  how ;  and 
the  pinching  poverty  and  uncertain  employ- 
ment have  now  changed  to  comparative  ease 
and  affluence;  it  is  the  south  wind  of  the 
heavenly  Spirit.  Oh,  open  your  heart  to  its 
tender  influence  !  The  God  of  your  mercies 
whispers,  "  Give  Me  thine  heart!" 

The  angel  of  death  has  entered  your  dwell- 
ing and  removed  the  desire  of  your  eyes. 
The  voice,  sweet  to  your  ears  as  the  song  of 
the  early  birds,  is  hushed ;  and  the  rippling 
laughter  and  light  footfalls  have  ceased  to 
make  glad  your  household.  Or  your  own  fa- 
miliar friend,  who  has  shared  your  sorrows 
and  your  joys,  has  been  withdrawn  ;  or,  worse 
still,  has  lifted  his  heel  against  you.  You 
have  loved  and  trusted,  and  been  forsaken. 
You  leaned  on  an  Eg}~ptian  reed,  and  it  has 
pierced  your  feeble  hand  ;  and  the  fruit  you 


174  THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 

« 

thought  so  fair  is  now  bitter  ashes  to  your 
taste.  The  bankruptcy,  the  unsuccessful  in- 
vestment, the  dishonesty  of  the  servant  who 
has  wasted  your  substance,  the  unfaithful 
partner  who  has  involved  you  in  difficulties, 
the  vessel  that  has  never  reached  the  port,  or 
the  shipwreck  of  some  sweet  hope  dearer 
than  gold  or  silver.  Oh,  friend,  it  is  the 
north  wind ;  it  tells  you,  "  He  hath  created 
the  smith  that  bloweth  the  coals  in  the  fire, 
that  bringeth  forth  an  instrument  for  his 
work."  He  hath  "  created  the  waster  to  de- 
stroy." It  is  the  voice  of  Love,  "  Give  Me 
thine  heart,  and  let  thine  eyes  observe  My 
ways."  For  if  you  are  still  dead  in  your 
sins,  how  can  you  see  ?  "  Except  a  man  be 
born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God."  You  are  blind ;  His  Spirit  dwelleth 
not  within  you;  how  can  you  take  heed  to 
His  ways  ?  Your  own  ways  shall  bring  you 
death;  but  His  ways  are  life  and  peace. 
Jesus  is  "  The  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the 
Life." 

In  proportion  as  the  eyes  of  the  child  rest 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  175 

on  the  father's  countenance,  so  will  he  guide 
him  with  his  eye.  And  the  spiritual  ear 
unstopped,  and  turned  to  listen  to  the  Fa- 
ther's voice,  shall  surely  hear  that  voice  be- 
hind him  guiding  him  in  the  path  his  eye 
observeth,  saying,  "  This  is  the  way;  walk 
ye  in  it." 

Oh,  ye  who  know  these  truths,  and,  tarrying 
in  Egypt,  have  forgotten  the  joys  of  your 
adoption,  let  the  song  of  welcome  resound  in 
your  Father's  house  !  Come  !  return  !  feed  on 
the  children's  portion,  the  bread-corn  bruised, 
the  finest  of  the  wheat ;  with  honey  out  of 
the  stony  rock  shall  you  be  satisfied.  He 
offers  you  water  from  the  rivers  of  His  pleas- 
ure, and  the  new  wine  of  the  kingdom  that 
maketh  glad  the  heart  that  mourneth.  Come  ! 
let  people  know  that  He  dwells  in  you,  and 
walks  in  you,  and  is  your  God,  and  that  you 
are  His  servants.  "  Wherefore  come  out 
from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith 
the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing , 
and  I  will  receive  you,  and  will  be  a  Father 
unto  you,    and  ye   6hall    be   My   sons    and 


176  THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 

daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty."    (2  Cor. 
vi.  17.) 

And  you  who  linger  in  Kadesh,  press  on  to 
the  Promised  Land !  though  sinful  fears  and 
unbelief  oppose  your  progress,  the  Angel  of 
His  presence  goes  before  you.  Pass  not 
through  the  fields  and  the  vineyards  of  the 
enemy ;  drink  not  of  the  waters  of  their  pol- 
luted wells;  at  best  they  will  prove  but 
broken  cisterns.  Go  ye  by  the  King's  High- 
way, and  turn  not  unto  the  right  hand  nor  to 
the  left ;  but  let  thine  eyes  observe  His  ways. 


THE  TEMPLE  OF  THE  LIVING  GOD. 

'it  is  written,  my  house  shall  be  called  the  house  of  prayer, 

BUT   YE    HAVE   MADE   IT   A   DEN   OF   THIEVES."  —  Matt-  Xxi.  13. 

In  the  poor  Inn's  rudest  chamber 

The  Holy  Babe  is  laid  ; 
The  herd  and  hind  surround  Him, 

Where  angels  homage  paid. 
The  voice  that  ruleth  nations 

Is  changed  to  human  wail ; 
The  glory  of  the  Godhead 

Enshrouded  'neath  a  veil ! 


THE   NEW   SIXPENCE.  177 

The  young  Child  softly  slumbers 

On  a  village  maiden's  breast ; 
Earth,  to  the  Lord  Creator, 

Affords  no  place  of  rest, 
No  shelter  for  the  homeless, 

Beyond  a  stable-shed  ; 
No  place,  O  heavenly  Stranger, 

Where  Thou  canst  rest  Thine  head  ! 

The  lowly  shepherds  round  Him 

In  worship  bend  the  knee  ; 
The  host  of  heaven,  amazed, 

Behold  the  mystery. 
See  !  frankincense  and  spices, 

The  gifts  the  wise  men  bring, 
Myrrh  for  the  death  that  waits  Him, 

And  fine  gold  for  a  King  ! 

In  this  cold  heart,  my  Saviour, 

No  place  for  Thee  is  found  ! 
Amidst  the  world's  wild  clamor, 

Thy  still  sweet  voice  is  drowned. 
Oh,  give  Thine  Holy  Spirit ! 

Thy  temple,  Lord,  prepare  ; 
Cast  out  the  thieves  and  merchandise 

That  crowd  Thine  house  of  prayer. 

12 


178  THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 

These,  in  the  dark  recesses, 

Have  kept  my  Lord  afar, 
He  doth  withhold  His  presence 

Where  the  money-changers  are. 
What  buying  and  what  selling, 

And  what  idols  are  within  ! 
What  fire  strange  and  sacrifice 

Upon  Thine  altar  seen  ! 

There  is  no  silent  chamber 

Where  Love  its  peace  can  bring, 
No  place,  O  Dove  the  spotless, 

Where  Thou  canst  rest  Thy  wing. 
Gold  may  be  there,  and  spices, 

Yea,  and  the  bended  knee, 
And  wiser  than  the  Heavenly  One, 

The  wise  men  now  would  be. 

Forbear  to  smite,  O  Father ! 

Thou  'It  not  forbear  to  save ; 
On  the  Sacrifice  I  cast  me, 

Thy  tender  mercy  gave  ; 
Upon  the  young  child  Jesus, 

Born  in  a  stable-shed, 
On  Him  the  scorned  and  crucified, 

As  dying  in  my  stead. 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  179 

Upon  my  Priest  Anointed, 

Thy  well-beloved  Son ! 
For  me  reviled,  accused,  accursed, 

Jesus,  the  Risen  One  ! 
Jesus  !  the  King  with  many  crowns, 

In  kingly  might  adored  ! 
Jesus  !  the  sun  of  this  world's  night, 

Of  heaven  and  earth  the  Lord  ! 


Back  to  the  mangers  cradle-T^ed, 

Amidst  the  world's  rude  scorn, 
I  turn  my  gaze  —  'mid  lowing  herds, 

Behold,  the  Babe  is  born  ! 
He  shall  not  perish  —  no  rude  hand 

That  holy  life  can  mar  ; 
For  I  have  followed,  led  by  Thee, 

Thy  glorious  guiding  star  ! 

Dispel,  Lord,  with  Thy  voice  of  love, 

Each  dark,  bewildering  sin  ; 
It  is  Thine  house  not  made  with  hands, 

Oh,  come  and  dwell  within  ; 
And  make  it,  Lord,  Thy  resting-place, 

And  fill  it  with  Thy  light; 
My  rescued  soul,  in  this  Thy  shrine, 

Shall  serve  Thee  day  and  night. 


180  THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 

And  you  who  live  under  the  means  ofj 
grace,  who  have  the  title  of  usons,"  who 
have  been  treated  as  children,  so  far  as  pro- 
vision, protection,  and  instruction  are  con- 
cerned, who  have  a  name  to  live  and  yet  are 
dead,  consider  your  ways !  The  Son  of  God 
from  the  bosom  of  the  Father  took  your 
place  as  a  rebel  and  an  outcast,  with  all  its 
fearful  consequences ;  and  to  this  rebel,  to 
this  outcast,  is  offered  the  place  of  the  child, 
bought  for  him  by  the  blood  of  the  Son  of 
God ;  and  this  position  he  occupies  as  long  as 
the  day  of  grace  remains.  But  how  long,  oh, 
how  long  may  it  last  ? 

To-morrow  !  to-day !  this  hour  !  your  soul 
,may  be  required  of  you !  then  whose  shall 
those  things  be  that  ye  have  provided  ?  The 
servant  shall  be  as  his  master ;  and  the  pro- 
vision for  this  life  of  laborious  pleasure  shall 
only  enhance  the  miseries  of  the  life  to  come ! 

Oh,  listen !  to  you  are  these  words  of  salva- 
tion sent.  It  is  a  cry  from  the  very  heart  of 
God ;  the  depth  of  yearning  affection  breath- 
ing in  the  appeal  is  unutterable.     It  co*o*s 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  181 

bathed  in  the  blood  of  the  Redeemer,  and 
baptized  in  heaven's  own  love  —  "'Come!' 
My  lost  one,  My  redeemed,  4  Give  Me  thine 
hearty1  thy  sinful  heart;  and,  ;  A  new  heart 
will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put 
within  you :  and  I  will  take  away  the  stony 
heart  out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you 
an  heart  of  flesh.'  (Ezek.  xxxvi.  26.)  By 
all  I  have  done  for  thee,  by  all  I  long  to  be- 
stow on  thee,  i  Give  Me  thine  heart.'  "  Oh, 
observe  His  ways !  "  I  have  blotted  out,  as 
a  thick  cloud,  thy  transgressions,  and,  as  a 
cloud,  thy  sins :  return  unto  Me  ;  for  I  have 
redeemed  thee."  (Isaiah  xliv.  22.)  This 
may  be  thine. 

44  My  son!"  How  precious  such  a  title! 
how  full  of  encouragement !  and  this  is 
offered  to  a  runagate,  a  prodigal,  an  enemy ; 
but  the  heart  of  a  Father  yearns  over  you  as 
over  an  erring  child :  for  He  would  have  all 
men  to  be  saved.  He  is  not  willing  to  give 
you  up ;  return  and  be  reconciled,  and  rejoice 
His  paternal  heart.  Yea,  rejoice  all  heaven. 
Oh,  ponder  on  the  marvels  of  that  love  which 


182  THE  NEW  SIXPENCE. 

condescends  to  beseech  His  enemies  to  he  re- 
conciled to  Him. !  Oh,  turn  ye  !  turn  ye  !  why 
will  ye  die  ?  To-day  He  repeats  His  gracious 
invitation,  "Give  Me  thine  heart,  and  let 
thine  eyes  observe  My  ways.  All  My  paths 
are  peace." 

"  God  is  good ;  God  is  Love."  Oh,  happy, 
rejoicing  believer,  let  not  Satan  rob  you  of 
the  sweet  assurance  that  you  are  a  son  in- 
deed !  The  disciples  in  the  storm  were  no 
less  the  dear  disciples  and  friends  of  Jesus, 
because  the  fierce  tempest  beat  upon  their 
little  boat ;  nor  was  it  that  they  were  for- 
gotten of  Him,  that  He  allowed  the  fourth 
watch  of  the  night  to  break  over  the  dark 
waters  before  the  sweet,  assuring  presence  of 
their  Lord  floated  over  them.  In  the  solitary 
night-watch  on  the  mountains,  His  love  had 
won  for  them  the  faith  that  kept  the  feeble 
one  from  sinking,  and  saved  the  tremblers  on 
their  lonely  voyage.  "  It  was  now  dark,  and 
Jesus  was  not  come  to  them." 

Ah !  it  is  dark  indeed  when  we  see  only 
the  blackness  of  night,  when  we  hear  only  the 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  183 

wild  breakers  roar !  Oh,  then,  trust  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  !  for  it  "  is  a  strong  tower : 
the  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe." 
(Pro  v.  xviii.  10.) 

Ye  are  sons,  and  must  learn  to  suffer  ere  ye 
can  reign.  Say  not,  because  peculiar  tempta- 
tions and  perplexities  beset  you,  "  Can  I  be  a 
child  of  God?"  Cast  back  the  doubt  on  him 
who  has  forged  it ;  "  for  he  was  a  liar  from 
the  beginning."  "No  chastening  for  the  pres- 
ent seemeth  to  be  joyous,  but  grievous: 
nevertheless  afterward  it  yieldeth  the  peace- 
able fruit  of  righteousness  unto  them  which 
are  exercised  thereby."     (Heb.  xii.  11.) 

God's  judgments  are  abroad  upon  the  earth; 
with  the  natural  understanding,  men  may 
perceive  them  as  dark  providences,  but  they 
wear  a  far  other  aspect  to  the  child  of  God. 
To  him  whose  eyes  are  upon  the  ways  of  the 
Lcrd,  they  are  often  unveiled ;  but  even 
when  mystery  has  enshrouded  them,  the  little 
links  of  circumstances  pass  not  by  unob- 
served ;  for  faith  in  the  dark  hour  rests  on 
the  faithfulness  of  the  Promiser.    "All  things 


184  THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 

work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,"  (Rom.  viii.  28,)  and  such  are  content 
with  the  Divine  plan  to  accomplish  the  Divine 
purpose  ;  and  there,  as  elsewhere,  behold  the 
seal  of  the  heavenly  commission,  "  God  is 
good  !  God  is  Love." 

Flesh  may  quail,  and  tears  flow  ;  may  be  it 
was  for  this  the  blow  fell ;  but  every  tear  is 
numbered.  The  thorn-crown  is  not  a  crown 
unless  worn  by  an  heir  of  the  kingdom,  nor 
tribulation  the  badge  of  sonship,  save  in  the 
fellowship  it  brings.  "  There  is  one  event  to 
the  righteous  and  to  the  wicked."  (Eccles. 
ix.  2.)  The  fortitude  the  natural  heart  may 
bring  forth  is  only  of  earth  ;  for  "  every  fruit 
yieldeth  seed  after  its  kind,"  and  not  after 
another  kind ;  therefore  the  natural  man  sees 
no  more  of  the  ways  of  God  when  the  afflic- 
tion is  removed  than  before.  Not  so  the  new 
man  ;  he  has  observed  the  ways  of  the  Lord, 
and  thus  has  learned  more  of  His  wisdom, 
His  faithfulness,  and  His  love. 

Nor  does  the  Lord  exonerate  the  instru- 
ment He  has  suffered  to  afflict  His  people. 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  18.^ 

He  does  by  no  means  in  this  justify  the  un- 
godly. The  bitter  waters  are  rushing  to 
destroy ;  He  permits  them  to  sweep  over  the 
seed  of  His  right-hand  planting.  To  the  eye 
of  the  natural  man  they  seem  only  to  carry 
desolation  ;  but  He  who  has  permitted  the 
flood  will  restrain  its  bounds  ;  beneath  His 
hand  it  shall  fructify  the  furrows,  and  fer- 
tilize, and  not  destroy  the  grain. 

David  was  observing  the  Lord's  ways  when 
he  could  say  of  Shimei,  "Let  him  curse,  be- 
cause the  Lord  hath  said  unto  him,  Curse 
David.  Who  shall  then  say,  Wherefore  hast 
thou  done  so  ?  " 

Joseph's  eye  had  been  upon  the  ways  of 
the  Lord,  when  he  said  to  his  intended  mur- 
derers, who  had  unwittingly  made  him  a 
ruler,  "Now  therefore  be  not  grieved,  nor 
angry  with  yourselves,  that  ye  sold  me  hither: 
for  God  did  send  me  before  you  to  preserve 
life,"  (Gen.  xlv.  5 ;)  and  in  the  delicacy  of 
this  reception  we  trace  how  graciously  the 
heart,  itself  forgiven,  pardons  injuries  it  has 
received,  when  it  observes  the  ways  of  the 


186  THE   NEW   SIXPENCE. 

Lord.  The  sadness  on  the  brow  of  Nehe- 
miuh  was  but  the  shadow  of  the  Lord's  hand 
in  the  rebuilding  of  Jerusalem,  and  the 
prayerful  cupbearer,  in  observing  the  ways 
of  the  Lord,  prospered  in  that  whereunto  he 
was  sent.    (Neh.  ii.  3-8.) 

What  have  our  friends  done  for  us,  com- 
pared with  what  the  Lord  has  permitted  our 
most  bitter  foes  to  work  for  us  ?  Oh,  ye  who 
are  indeed  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Lord 
Almighty,  observe  His  ways!  Feeble  and 
foolish  of  yourselves,  He  is  your  Wisdom, 
and  your  Light;  His  righteousness  is  yours; 
draw  from  it.  Keep  the  sweet  legacy  of  a 
dying  Saviour's  peace  unbroken,  so  that  you 
may  observe  His  ways  also,  and  the  roll  of 
every  billow  on  your  tempest-tossed  path 
shall  but  whisper,  "God  is  good!  God  is 
Love  ! '' 

The  Father  looketh  on  the  beloved  Son,  in 
whom  He  is  well  pleased;  upon  His  Anointed; 
upon  our  Shield.  He  hath  won  for  thee  the 
trial  of  faith  and  patience,  of  meekness  and 
long-suffering,  and  they  are  as  much  thine  as 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE.  187 

the  exceeding  gi  eat  reward.  He  hath  prom- 
ised, that  "  whom  the  Lord  loveth  He  chas- 
teneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  He 
receiveth ; "  and  "if  ye  endure  chastening, 
God  dealeth  with  you  as  with  sons ;  for  what 
son  is  he  whom  the  Father  chasteneth  not  ?  " 
(Heb.  xii.  6,  7.) 

"  Only,  Lord,  say  to  me  ' My  son,'  and  then, 
whatever  Thou  wilt  after  !  "  Welcome  dark 
days  and  starless  nights ;  welcome  rough 
places  which  shall  be  made  plain,  and  the 
crooked  ones  which  shall  be  made  straight ! 
"  God  is  Love  !  "  Welcome  the  tribulation 
in  the  world,  which  has  been  overcome  ;  its 
sorrow  and  sickness ;  its  pain  and  poverty  ; 
its  scorn  and  oppression  :  "  in  all  these  things 
we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  Him 
who  loveth  us."    (Rom.  viii.  37.) 

Forget  not  your  song  in  the  night,  for  He 
giveth  it.  The  song  of  the  midnight  bird  is 
the  sweetest.  The  song  of  the  soul  in  the 
dark,  stormy  hour  fills  the  courts  of  heaven 
with  melody;  for  while  the  rough  billows 
around  us  seem  to  say,  "  He  will  be  favorable 


188  THE  NETV   SIXPENCE. 

no  more"  yet  the  very  taunt  of  the  tempter 
shall  remind  us  how  we  have  before  rejoiced 
in  His  presence  ;  and  while  we  observe  His 
ways,  we  shall  rest  upon  His  faithfulness. 
He  has  written,  "  I  am  the  Lord,  I  change 
not."     (Mai.  iii.  6.) 

"God  is  Good!   God  is  Love!" 


LOVE'S    OFFERING. 

NOT  YOUR  OWN,  FOR  YE  ARE  BOUGHT  WITH  A  PRICE." 

i  Cor  vi.  19, 

No  more  my  own,  Lord  Jesus, 
Bought  with  Thy  precious  blood ; 

I  give  Thee  but  Thine  own,  Lord, 
That  long  Thy  love  withstood. 

I  give  the  life  Thou  gavest, 

My  present,  future,  past ; 
My  joys,  my  fears,  my  sorrows, 

My  first  hope  and  my  last. 

I  give  the  love,  the  sweetest 

Thy  goodness  grants  to  me  ; 
Take  it,  and  make  it  meet,  Lord, 

An  offering  for  Thee. 


THE   NEW   SIXPENCE.  189 

Smile  !  and  the  very  shadows 

In  Thy  blest  light  shall  shine; 
Take  Thou  my  heart,  Lord  Jesus, 

For  Thou  hast  made  it  Thine. 

Thou  know'st  my  soul's  ambition, 
For  Thou  hast  changed  its  aim  ; 

The  world's  reproach  I  fear  not, 
To  share  a  Saviour's  shame ; 

Outside  the  camp  to  suffer, 
Within  the  veil  to  meet, 
And  hear  Thy  softest  whisper, 

From  out  the  mercy-seat. 

» 

Thou  bear'st  me  on  Thy  bosom, 

Amid  Thy  jewels  worn, 
Upon  Thy  hands  deep  graven, 

By  arms  of  Love  upborne  ; 

Rescued  from  sin's  destruction, 

Ransomed  from  death  and  hell, 
Complete  in  Thee,  Lord  Jesus, 

Thou  hast  done  all  things  well ! 

Oh,  deathless  love  that  bought  me  1 

Oh,  price  beyond  my  ken  ! 
Oh,  Life  that  hides  my  own  life, 

E'en  from  my  fellow-men  1 


190 


THE  NEW   SIXPENCE. 


Now  fashion,  form,  and  fill  me 
With  light  and  love  divine  ; 

Thus  one  with  Thee,  Lord  Jesus, 
I  am  forever  Thine ! 


^^cf^^fe^^®^ 


NAOMI'S    NIGHT    WATCH; 

OR, 

WHAT  CAN  A  CHILD  DO? 


"  Then  said  I,  Ah,  Lord  God  /  behold,  I  cannot  speak  : 
for  I  am  a  child.  But  the  Lord  said  tmto  me,  Say 
not,  I  am  a  child;  for  thou  shalt  go  to  all  that  I 
shall  send  thee."  —  Jer.  i.  6,  7. 

EAR  CHILDREN  :  This  little  story  is 
for  you.  A  child  is  the  subject ;  and  a 
dear  child,  now  a  lamb  in  Christ's  fold,  was 
the  cause  of  my  writing  it.  The  Saviour  of 
sinners  waits  for  you.  Are  you  willing  to  be 
saved  —  to  be  made  holy  and  happy  ?  To 
some  younger  than  you  He  has  said,  "  Come," 
and  taken  them  in  His  arms,  and  blessed 
them ;    and  "  the  blessing   of   the   Lord,   it 

101 


192  NAOMI'S   NIGHT   WATCH. 

maketh  rich,  and  He  addeth  no  sorrow  with 
it."     Come ! 

Who  is  willing  ?   These  are  willing  children  looking  for 

their  Lord, 
Springing  to  the  arms  of  Jesus  at  His  first  endearing 

word : 
Let  them  come,  the  Shepherd  sought  them,  He  has 

called  them,  they  are  blest ; 
Feed  His  lambs,  His  blood  hath  bought  them,  and  He 

bears  them  on  His  breast. 

Who   is  willing  ?     Weeping  sinners,   broken-hearted, 

see,  they  come ! 
Lo,  behold  the  dead  arising  from  the  darkness  of  the 

tomb ! 
Blind,  they  grope  amid  the  shadows ;  waiting  by  the 

way,  they  cry, 
"  Give  us  light,  O  Lord,  to  see  Thee ;  for  we  hear  Thee 

passing  by." 

What  can  a  child  do  ?  I  will  tell  you,  if 
you  have  never  discovered  it.  A  child  can  go 
to  Jesus ;  and  when  a  child  goes  to  Jesus,  He 
will  teach  that  child  what  even  a  little  one  of 
His  can  do  for  Him. 

Children  cried  "  Hosanna !  "  when  the  dear 


naomi's  night  watch.  193 

Saviour  went  up  to  Jerusalem.  The  scribes 
and  learned  men  were  very  angry.  They  did 
not  like  to  hear  the  happy  shout  of  child- 
hood giving  a  welcome  to  the  Lord  whom 
they  themselves  rejected  ;  but  Jesus  loved  to 
hear  their  joyful  voices.  He  loves  little 
children. 

His  disciples  thought  that  the  mothers  were 
taking  up  too  much  of  the  Master's  time, 
when  they  brought  their  infants  to  Him. 
They  wanted  to  hear  Him  discourse  of  other 
things;  for  uHe  spake  as  never  man  spake." 
They  wished  Him  to  tell  them  a  parable,  or 
to  speak  of  that  kingdom  of  heaven  of  which 
they  questioned  Him.  Ah,  they  had  yet  to 
learn  that  smiles  and  blessings  from  our  dear 
Saviour  could  fall  on  the  little  ones,  who 
could  not  receive  anything  else !  They  may 
not  understand  hard  sayings ;  but  they  can 
comprehend  deeds  of  love,  and  gentle,  sweet 
tones  of  voice,  and  the  soft  pressure  of  His 
loving  arms  ;  and  I  have  sometimes  thought 
that  those  little  ones  whom  He  had  thus 
blessed  were  the  same  who  afterwards  shouted 


194  naomi's  night  watch. 

before  Him,  not  only  in  the  temple,  but  also 
when  He  entered  Jerusalem,  meekly  sitting 
on  an  ass. 

I  know  one  who  used  to  wish  to  have  been 
born  when  Jesus  took  children  in  His  arms, 
for  she  was  a  lonely  child ;  and  she  thought, 
if  Jesus  had  been  on  earth,  she  would  have 
gone  to  Him,  and  He  would  have  loved  her. 
She  did  not  know  that  she  could  go  to  Him 
now,  and  that  He  did  love  her,  and  had  taken 
away  all  she  loved,  and  made  her  lonely,  that 
she  might  go  to  Him,  and  that  He  might  take 
her  up  in  His  arms  and  bless  her.  Oh,  never 
forget  that  Jesus  loves  little  children ! 

There  was  a  man  who  wrote  about  Jesus, 
who  did  not  know  Him  as  the  Son  of  God 
who  came  to  save  sinners  by  dying  for  them 
on  the  cross,  and  he  said  that  Jesus  had  never 
been  seen  to  smile.  When  I  read  this,  I 
thought  if  tjie  man  could  have  asked  these 
Jewish  mothers,  they  would  have  told  him 
otherwise.  Cannot  you  see  Him  with  one 
infant  nestling  round  His  neck,  and  another 
clinging  to  His  knee,  and  one  timid  little  girl 


Naomi's  night  watch.  195 

waiting  until  she  can  slide  her  fingers  into 
His  tender  hand? 

Oh,  children,  come  to  Jesus !  He  is  waiting 
for  you. 

"  But  how  can  I  come  ?  "  you  say.  "  He  is 
not  here  now." 

You  cannot  see  Him;  bat  if  you  ask  Him 
for  a  new  heart,  and  He  gives  you  His  Holy 
Spirit,  then  you  will  learn  what  a  Saviour 
Jesus  is  —  the  Saviour  of  little  children  ;  then 
you  will  know  Him  and  love  Him. 

And  now  I  will  tell  you  of  a  child  who 
found  Jesus,  and  what  she  did  when  she  be- 
lieved that  God  the  Father  in  heaven  hears 
all  the  wants  and  wishes  that  His  beloved  Son 
presents  to  Him. 

There  wras  a  village  in  Ireland  where  very 
few  of  the  people  loved  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
if  any  one  did  so,  they  were  persecuted,  be- 
cause they  would  not  pray  to  the  Virgin 
Mary.  You  know,  the  Lord  has  expressly 
forbidden  us  to  worship  any  but  the  God  of 
heaven,  and  to  pray  to  others  is  idolatry 
worse  than  heathen. 


196  NAOMI'S  NIGHT  WATCH. 

There  came  to  the  village  a  gentleman  who 
loved  the  Lord.  He  thought  it  was  worth 
being  persecuted,  if  he  could  only  win  one 
soul  to  know  and  love  the  precious  Saviour 
that  he  had  found.  He  rented  a  house,  and 
built  a  schoolroom,  a  very  small  one  ;  and  then 
he  offered  to  teach  the  children  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  Lord's  da}-.  At  first  only  six 
came  ;  but  he  taught  them  to  sing  hymns,  and 
to  learn  texts,  and  told  them  in  a  simple  way 
about  Jesus.  They  loved  him,  he  was  so 
gentle  with  them ;  he  had  always  a  kind 
word  or  a  pleasant  smile  for  each  ;  and  they 
began  to  feel  so  much  happier  at  school  than 
at  home,  where  there  was  often  much  quarrel- 
ling, and  drinking,  and  smoking,  that  they 
wanted  to  remain  longer  than  the  two  hours 
their  friend  gave  them  to  meet  him  in  the 
schoolhouse. 

At  last  he  opened  the  school  every  day,  and 
the  six  scholars  soon  became  sixteen,  and  then 
he  had  a  Christian  woman  to  help  him,  and 
she  kept  the  children  employed  in  many  ways. 
You  might  see  some  of    them  without  shoes 


naomi's  night  watch.  197 

or  stockings,  or  caps  or  hats,  coming  over 
the  hill  even  on  a  wet  day,  taking  their  poor 
morsel  of  brown  bread  and  potatoes  for  their 
dinner,  and  waiting  until  the  two  hours  were 
passed,  which  left  them  free  again  to  go  into 
the  schoolhouse. 

Now  I  know  some  little  English  children 
who  do  not  love  their  school  so  well,  but 
who  would  rather  find  excuses  for  staying 
away,  than  accept  any  hardship  for  going. 
Not  a  few  of  these  children  had  to  bear  hard 
blows,  for  the  priests  were  angry  with  their 
parents  for  sending  them  where  they  would 
learn  about  Jesus;  but  many  of  the  unruly 
ones  had  become  gentle  and  patient  since  Mr. 

T came  amongst  them,  and  some  of  the 

parents  were  thankful  to  get  even  a  little 
education  for  them ;  so  they  let  them  go. 

Now  there  was  a  notorious  drunkard  in  the 
village.  He  had  formerly  been  a  small  far- 
mer, but  his  wife  died,  and  he  became  a 
drainer  on  the  land  he  once  owned.  So  vio- 
lent and  cruel  was  he,  that  all  his  children, 
as  soon  as  they  were  old  enough,  left  liim  for 


198  naomi's  night  watch. 

service ;  but  there  was  one,  the  youngest, 
Naomi,  who  was  slightly  lame  and  very  deli- 
cate, and  could  do  nothing  but  knit,  who  re- 
mained at  home.  This  little  girl  was  often 
the  subject  of  his  cruel  treatment,  but  only 
when  he  was  drunk.  I  am  sorry  to  say  this 
was  every  day  that  he  could  get  money  for 
whiskey. 

Naomi  was  nine  years  old.  Poor  child,  she 
had  no  mother  to  teach  her  what  to  do,  but 
she  made  up  the  peat  fire,  and  tried  as  well  as 
she  could  to  keep  the  hut  clean  ;  but  it  was  a 
very  dark,  dirty,  miserable  place,  and  those 
places  are  generally  so  where  the  careless 
drunkard  lives. 

The  child  was  often  alone  for  whole  days. 
Her  father  would  go  to  the  neighboring  town, 
and  never  leave  it  while  he  had  a  sixpence 
left,  and  then  return  to  be  angry  with  poor 
Naomi  because  she  had  no  dinner  for  him. 

The  poor  child  set  off  one  day,  she  knew 
not  where.  It  was  a  bright  sunny  morning, 
and  it  cheered  her  at  first  to  see  the  spring 
flowers  and  bright  ferns  putting  out  their  green 


naomi's  night  watch.  199 

buds,  and  to  watch  the  rills  of  water  among 
the  fiesh  moss  that  you  find  so  often  to 
brighten  your  way  over  the  mountains  in  dear 
Ireland.  She  was  miserable,  poor  child;  and 
she  cried,  she  scarce  knew  why.  The  sun- 
shine and  the  flowers  were  nothing  to  her ; 
they  could  not  dry  her  tears,  nor  comfort  her 
forlorn  heart;  even  the  very  birds  on  the 
bushes  seemed  happier  than  she  was.  On 
and  on  she  went,  getting  very  tired,  when 
she  saw  what  appeared  a  pretty  new  cottage. 
The  door  was  half  open,  and  weary  little 
Xaomi  sat  down  upon  the  step.  She  heard 
the  sound  of  children's  voices,  singing  : 

"  Come  to  Jesus  !  come  now  ! 
Just  now,  come  to  Jesus, 
Come  to  Jesus,  just  now." 

Again  and  again  the  shrill  voices  sang  forth 
the  hymn,  and  Naomi,  who  had  never  heard 
so  many  singing,  was  half  terrified  as  well  as 
delighted. 

Then  some  one  spoke  to  the  little  ones.     It 
was  a  text  from  God's  Holy  Word,  that  tliia 


200         naomi's  night  watch. 

poor  child  had  never  heard  before.  She  did 
not  know  the  meaning  of  it,  but  the  voice  was 
so  kind  and  gentle  that  it  soothed  her.  She 
ceased  to  sob,  and  was  comforted,  she  knew 
not  why. 

The  children  left  the  schoolroom,  and  the 
poor  wandering  one  drew  to  the  roadside ; 
they  were  soon  bounding  away,  and  the  mis- 
tress, with  one  holding  her  hand,  went  in 
another  direction.  No  one  remarked  Naomi ; 
and  when  they  were  all  gone,  and  the  school 
locked,  she  returned  to  her  former  position  on 
the  step.     . 

But  the  Lord  Jesus  saw  the  lonely  one. 
You  know,  He  loves  little  children,  and  so 
He  sent  His  dear  servant  Mr.  T to  com- 
fort her. 

He  had  been  delayed  on  the  road,  and  was 
too  late  to  see  his  scholars ;  the  door  was 
locked,  and  at  its  threshold  sat  the  little 
stranger. 

Mr.  T asked  her  why  she  remained 

there  so  sad  and  still. 

She  replied  she  wanted  to  be  as  happy  as 


naomi's  night  watch.  201 

those  children.  Then  God's  dear  messenger 
asked  her  if  she  wanted  to  learn  about  Jesus, 

Yes;  she  wanted  to  sing  their  song. 

Would  she  go  to  the  school  the  next  day  ? 

No  !  she  dared  not ;  her  father  would  kill 
her,  and  the  priest  would  kill  her  father ;  and 
then  — 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  T ,  "  I  do  not  think  so. 

Jesus  Christ  will  take  care  of  weak  ones  who 
want  to  come  to  Him." 

"  I  will  tell  you,"  said  Naomi ;  "  I  will 
come,  and  hide  it  all  from  him." 

"lhat  will  never  do,  my  child,"  said  Mr. 

T .     "  Jesus  Christ  did  not  hide  Himself 

from  His  murderers.  He  gave  Himself  up  to 
save  you  from  everlasting  fire  and  the  worm 
that  never  dies  ;  and  you  must  not  steal  after 
Him  to  save  yourself  from  pain.  Jesus  came 
as  a  feeble  babe,  born  in  a  stable,  all  for  you : 
and  lived  thirty-three  years  in  poverty,  and 
had  so  many  sorrows  that  He  was  called  the 
*  Man  of  Sorrows.'  Oh,  little  girl,  He  loves 
you !  It  would  be  better  to  be  beaten  for 
Jesus,  than  to  be  beaten  ivithout  Jesus.     Bet> 


£02  naomi's  night  watch. 

ter  to  suffer  for  well-doing  here,  than  to  suf- 
fer for  evil-doing  hereafter." 

Naomi  thought  so  too.  The  next  day,  and 
the  next,  she  was  found  at  school.  She 
learned  the  hymn  to  which  she  had  first  lis- 
tened ;  and,  what  was  better,  she  learned  to 
know  her  dear  Saviour.  She  knew  He  heard 
her  prayers  and  answered  them,  and  she  be- 
lieved the  things  that  were  read  out  of  His 
Word,  because  the  Bible  is  God's  own  book, 
and  could  not  lie ;  and  it  said,  "  Come  unto 
•Me ;  "  "  Look  unto  Me,  and  be  ye  saved." 

This  child  became  prudent  beyond  her 
years.  She  did  not  try  to  conceal  that  she 
went  to  the  Protestant  school,  nor  did  she 
speak  of  it. 

Many  a  day  the  poor  girl  found  a  meal  pre- 
pared for  her  at  the  schoolhouse,  and  she  was 
taught  many  ways  of  making  their  rough 
home  neater  and  more  cleanly. 

Her  father  seemed  to  miss  her  less  and  less, 
and  to  care  nothing  about  her.  He  only 
remarked,  when  he  was  sober,  that  his  poor, 
delicate   child  became  more  gentle   and  pa- 


naomi's  Nicrrr  watch.  203 

tient ;  for  lie  often  struck  her,  though  sorry 
enough  he  was  after  he  became  sober.  Now 
the  little  daughter  longed  for  her  father  to 
know  Jesus  too  ;  but  how  to  tell  him  she 
knew  not.  The  Lord  sees  the  desire  of  the 
heart,  and  He  helps  the  helpless ;  and  He 
loves  to  help  little  children.  One  evening 
the  father  of  our  Naomi  came  home  more  in- 
toxicated than  usual,  and  threw  himself  on 
the  settle,  which  is  a  long  wooden  seat  by  the 
open  fireplace.  Naomi  had  cleaned  the  house, 
and  made  up  the  peat  fire  quite  bright,  and 
she  hoped  her  father  would  soon  go  to  bed, 
for  she  was  very  weary ;  but  he  lay  motion- 
less, and  as  if  inanimate. 

The  morning  broke  through  the  half-shat- 
tered casement ;  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  fell 
upon  a  pale-faced  child,  whose  anxious  eyes 
through  the  long  night  had  kept  their  sleep- 
less watch.  All  through  the  still,  dark  mid- 
night hours,  like  a  little  ministering  spirit, 
sat  the  poor  motherless  child,  keeping  watch 
over  her  wretched,  drunken  father,  gently 
moving  the  peat  from  time  to  time,  lest  the 


204  naomi's  night  watch. 

last  glimmer  should  fail  before  the  day  broke. 
Her  father  woke  with  a  strange,  wild  stare, 
and  saw  his  child  sitting  at  his  feet,  her  chin 
supported  on  her  hands,  her  elbows  on  her 
knees,  on  a  high  chair. 

Jesus  was  smiling  on  her,  though  he  was 
not  speaking  parables.  He  was  holding  her 
to  His  bosom,  and  thus  she  was  sweetly 
drinking  in,  she  knew  not  how,  some  of  the 
mysteries  of  the  kingdom. 

"What  are  you  doing  there?"  said  her 
father,  fiercely,  as  he  raised  his  head,  half 
frightened  perhaps  by  the  pale,  moveless  face 
in  the  glow  of  the  dawn. 

"Watching  you,  father,"  replied  Naomi, 
meekly. 

"  How  dare  you  watch  me !  "  shouted  the 
man,  springing  up  ready  to  strike  her. 
"What  is  that  for?" 

"Father,  I  was  afraid  Satan  would  come 
and  take  you  away  to  burn  you  in  everlasting 
fire,  where  the  worm  never  dies,  and  the  fire 
is  never  put  out." 

"Everlasting  fire,   child!      What  is  that 


205 


you  said?  Going  to  burn  me  in  everlasting 
fire !  " 

"  Yes  !  "  replied  the  child.  "  Satan  takes 
you  to  the  whiskey-shop,  and  you  go.  Satan 
bids  you  say  wicked  oaths,  and  you  say  them, 
you  like  to  say  them ;  and  at  last  he  will  take 
you  away  and  burn  you  in  everlasting  fire ! 
and  I  have  sat  by  to  watch  for  fear  he  should 
come  to-night." 

The  terrified  man  stared  around,  and  crept 
to  the  side  of  the  child,  as  if  the  little  pale 
maiden  could  save  him  from  the  dreadful  fate 
that  awaited  him.  At  last  he  said  slowly, 
"  Where  did  you  learn  that  about  —  ever- 
lasting fire  ?  " 

"  At  the  English  gentleman's,"  said  the 
child  firmly,  "  the  Protestant  school ;  and, 
father,  I  wish  you  would  go  there  too,  and 
hear  what  Mr.  T says  about  Jesus." 

The  father  did  not  reply.  Naomi  prepared 
a  meal  for  him,  and  piled  up  the  peat,  and 
took  down  the  bag  with  her  books  and  work,, 
and  timidly  approached  her  father,  and  bade 
him  good-bye.     He  took  no. notice  of  her,  so 


206  naomi's  night  watch. 

she  went  unmolested  on  her  way  to  the 
schoolhouse ;  for  her  father  made  no  effort  to 
detain  her,  but  silently  watched  her  prepara- 
tions, murmuring  to  himself,  "Everlasting 
fire  !  Everlasting  — fire,  never  put  out — with 
Satan." 

When  the  little  girl  returned,  the  old  man 
was  sitting  in  the  same  place,  on  the  settle  by 
the  fire. 

The  child  drew  near ;  she  s*aw  his  face  look 
very  sad,  and  she  felt  sorry.  She  did  not 
know  what  she  should  say  to  comfort  him ; 
but  she  asked  him  if  she  might  sing  her 
hymn,  and  repeat  what  she  had  learned  that 
morning,  and  he  let  her  do  so. 

Poor  little  Naomi !  though  she  had  had  a 
sleepless  night,  she  seemed  to  mount  the  hill 
that  afternoon  more  easily  than  ever  before ; 
for  the  consciousness  of  her  father  knowing 
she  was  on  her  way  to  the  Protestant  school, 
without  beating  her,  filled  her  heart  with  joy. 
Never  before  did  the  ferns  look  so  green,  or 
the  birds  sing  so  sweetly;  the  honeysuckles 
were   putting   out   their   first   blossoms,    and 


NAOMI'S   NIGHT   WATCH.  207 

everything  seemed  glad  because  Naomi's  fa- 
ther had  Dot  laid  a  heavy  hand  on  the  little 
lame  girl.  Her  frock  had  many  a  rent  in  it9 
and  though  she  had  grown  much  taller,  the 
blue  petticoat  had  not  grown  longer  ;  but  the 
bare  legs  and  feet  were  clean,  her  brown  hair 
was  smooth  over  her  pale  face,  and  with  her 
bag  slung  at  her  back,  you  would  be  sur- 
prised to  see  how  nimbly  she  climbed  the 
hill.  The  short  crutch  that  helped  her  along 
a  year  or  two  ago  made  her  stoop  now,  but 
she  did  not  make  her  lameness  an  excuse  for 
being  late  at  school.  Ah,  if  you  could  have 
seen  her,  you  would  learn  how  the  Good 
Shepherd  helps  His  lambs! 

She  rose  early  every  morning,  that  her 
father  might  not  miss  anything  she  had  been 
accustomed  to  do  for  him  before  she  found 
the  hill  school.  She  knew  that  it  was  her 
duty  to  attend  to  her  father's  comfort,  and  do 
the  work  in  the  house ;  for  God  does  not 
3  those  who  neglect  the  service  He  gives 
them,  and  whether  it  be  to  go  to  school,  or 
clean  a  house,  or  write  a  book,  or  wash  linen, 


208  naomi's  night  watch. 

or  dig  in  the  ground,  or  nurse  a  baby,  or  wait 
on  the  sick  or  aged,  if  we  desire  to  do  it  for 
Jesus,  He  will  teach  us  how  to  do  it,  and  will 
lead  us  to  do  it  so  that  we  may  have  a  bless- 
ing in  it.  And  the  child  who  asks  for  help 
from  the  Lord  will  always  have  time  for 
everything  that  is  needful  to  be  done ;  and 
not  only  so,  but  she  will  find  some  spare  mo- 
ments to  give  to  those  who  have  not  yet 
learned  the  secret  of  peace  and  joy,  which  is 
the  heritage  of  them  that  follow  Jesus,  even 
through  much  tribulation. 

The  next  morning  Naomi  went  to  school  as 
usual,  but  her  father  did  not  leave  the  house, 
nor  did  he  even  ask  her  where  she  was  going ; 
but  when  she  came  home  he  listened  to  all 
she  had  gathered,  and  tears  stood  in  his 
bloodshot  eyes.    And  so  it  was  on  other  days. 

At  last  a  priest  came,  and  was  very  angry 
indeed  because  Naomi  had  gone  to  the  Eng- 
lish school.  He  found  that  Naomi's  father 
had,  in  a  way,  been  there  too,  and  he  threat- 
ened him,  but  in  vain;  for  the  man  was 
growing  as   brave  as  his  child,  and   he  had 


naomi's  night  watch  209 

been  to  thank  Mr.  T for  his  kindness  to 

his  young  teacher.     And  Mr.  T found 

that  the  wanderer  he  had  gathered  into  the 
fold  had  become  a  child-missionary,  and  had 
carried  the  words  of  salvation  to  her  drunken, 
miserable  parent,  now  miserable  no  longer. 
The  man  became  not  only  a  sober  man,  but 
he  learned  to  know  Jesus. 

There  are  many  sober  people  who  do  not 
know  Jesus.  Many  who  take  the  pledge  to 
abstain  from  intoxicating  liquors  know  noth- 
ing of  Jesus  Christ ;  but  think  if  they  keep 
from  one  sin  that  makes  them  abhorred  of 
others  they  are  fit  for  heaven ;  so  they  make 
a  Saviour  of  the  pledge. 

Naomi's  father  did  not  think  so.  He  saw 
his  meek,  patient  child  following  the  Lord. 
She  had  warned  him  when  no  one  else  had 
warned  him,  and  he  never  loved  her  so  dearly 
as  that  day  when  the  half-frightened  child 
took  her  way  to  school,  and  left  her  father 
with  the  dreadful  warning  ringing  in  his  ears, 
"  Satan  will  burn  you  in  everlasting  fire." 

Oh,  dear  children,  may  you  love  those  who 
14 


210  naomi's  night  watch. 

speak  faithfully  to  you !  and  do  not  think, 
because  you  are  not  a  poor  drunken  Irish- 
man, nor  a  little  lame  girl,  that  therefore  you 
do  not  want  a  Saviour.  There  is  not  one 
Saviour  for  the  rich  and  another  for  the  poor  ; 
there  is  but  one  wa}%  and  Jesus  is  that  Way, 
and  the  Door,  the  only  door,  into  heaven ; 
and  when  that  door  is  shut,  where  will  the 
unrighteous  be  ?  There  is  only  outer  dark- 
ness and  "  everlasting  fire  "  for  them.  Now 
you  see  this  little  child  was  in  the  arms  of 
Jesus  ;  she  loved  Him ;  and  only  those  who 
love  Jesus  want  others  to  love  Him  too;  and 
whenever  a  little  child  stretches  out  its  hand, 
and  lays  hold  of  another  in  love,  it  will  draw 
the  other  to  Jesus,  unless  that  other  resists. 

Every  one  who  loves  Jesus,  even  the  poor- 
est, the  weakest,  the  most  ignorant,  has  a 
service  for  Him. 

The  love  of  Jesus  is  like  the  flame  of  a 
lamp,  and  when  it  burns  in  the  soul  some  one 
is  warmed  or  enlightened  by  it. 

If  the  stars  were  not  bright  in  the  sky  on 
sunny  days   they  would  be   useless  in  dark 


NAOMI'S  NIGHT  WATCH.  211 

nights.  They  shine  all  day  long ;  and  those 
who  are  in  deep  pits  see  them  shine,  because 
they  are  then  out  of  the  light  of  day.  So 
•with  those  who  love  Jesus ;  they  will  serve 
Him  by  shining,  though  unobserved  by  any 
one  but  Him. 

Now  this  is  a  true  story  I  have  told  you  ; 
and  I  could  tell  you  the  name  of  the  kind 
man  whom  Jesus  sent  to  speak  gentle  words 
of  invitation  to  our  dear  little  Irish  girl.  I 
do  often  pray  that  there  may  be  many  as 
ready  to  hear  of  the  dear  Saviour  as  such 
kind  men  are  to  tell  of  Him,  so  that  when 
he  takes  them  in  His  arms,  they  may  stretch 
forth  their  willing  hands  for  all  to  share  the 
love  He  has  for  little  children. 

When  the  sun  shines  in  the  morning,  it 
makes  no  noise,  but  it  leads  those  who  know 
God  to  bless  Him ;  we  feel  that  it  is  from 
Him.  And  when  the  light  of  His  love  shines 
out  in  another  we  feel  it,  and  we  bless  him ; 
and  God's  service  is  a  loving  service. 

Dear  children,  I  have  written  this  little 
history  with  the  longing  desire  that  Jesus  may 


212  naomi's  night  watch. 

bless  it ;  and  all  of  you  who  listen  to  it,  or 
read  it,  may  learn  something  of  that  blessed 
One,  the  Son  of  God,  the  Saviour. 

Up  in  yon  bright  home  in  paradise  are 
thousands  of  children ;  soon  you  shall  behold 
them  with  palms  in  their  hands,  with  harps 
of  gold,  and  hear  their  glad  songs — joyful 
little  ones,  who  have  been  taken  in  the  arms 
of  Jesus,  on  whom  His  loving  hands  have 
rested. 

Little  ones,  those  dear  hands  were  pierced 
by  cruel  men  for  you ;  and  He  bore  the 
wrath  of  God  that  you  may  live  forever 
in  a  happy  home,  where  sin  and  tears  are 
not  known. 

Soon  you  will  die ;  you  may  live  to  be  a 
young  man  or  woman,  you  may  live  to  be 
old.  But  oh,  you  may  die  to-morrow,  Ok  even 
to-night ! 

A  dear  child,  the  age  of  Naomi,  who  loved 
Jesus,  was  full  of  peace  when  leaving  a  lov- 
ing mother,  and  father,  and  sister,  for  the 
Lord  Jesus ;  and  before  he  died,  his  mother 
said  to  him,  "  Is  Jesus  near  vou  now,  dear  t " 


NAOMI'S  NIGHT  WATCH.  213 

44  Oh,  mother,"  he  replied,  half  reprovingly, 
44  yes  !     He  has  never  left  me." 

He  will  never  leave  us,  for  He  loves  His 
own  —  44  loves  them  to  the  end."  (John 
xiii.  1.) 

You  will  think  of  our  little  Irish  girl  when 
you  read  of  Ruth  and  Naomi  in  God's  Word. 
Ruth  followed  her  mother-in-law  out  of  the 
land  of  idolatry,  into  the  place  where  men 
worshipped  the  one  true  God ;  and  doubtless, 
from  the  faithful  love  she  bore  her  Israelitish 
mother,  she  had  already  cast  away  her  idols  ; 
for  she  said,  4'  Intreat  me  not  to  leave  thee, 
or  to  return  from  following  after  thee :  for 
whither  thou  goest,  I  will  go ;  and  where  thou 
lodgest,  I  will  lodge  :  thy  people  shall  be  my 
people,  and  thy  God  my  God  :  where  thou 
diest,  will  I  die,  and  there  will  I  be  buried : 
the  Lord  do  so  to  me,  and  more  also,  if  aught 
but  death  part  thee  and  me."  (Ruth  i. 
16, 17.) 

This  was  love  that  the  Lord  commendeth , 
and  her  obedience  testified  how  much  she 
honored  the  mother  she  followed.     Had  she 


214  naomi's  night  watch. 

remained  selfishly  in  the  country  of  her  birth 
in  the  idolatrous  worship  out  of  which  she 
had  been  led,  how  much  blessing  would  she 
not  have  lost !  There  was  no  better  induce- 
ment for  her  outwardly  to  do  more  than  her 
sister,  but  she  had  learnt  something  of  Israel's 
God,  and  in  following  the  forlorn  widow,  who 
was  returning  sorrowful  and  empty-handed  to 
her  native  place,  she  was  content  to  share  that 
poverty  and  loneliness,  to  minister  to  one  who 
had  led  her  to  know  her  God.  Ruth  was  a 
gleaner  to  help  their  scanty  subsistence  in  the 
golden  harvest-fields  which  afterward  became 
her  own  as  the  happy  wife  of  Boaz.  Little 
could  she  foretell  the  honor  that  awaited  her 
when  she  accompanied  her  mother-in-law  as 
a  stranger  to  the  strange  land.  She  became 
the  grandmother  of  king  David,  from  whom 
the  earthly  parents  of  our  Lord  Jesus  de- 
scended. She  was  poor,  but  poverty  did  not 
leave  her  without  a  service  and  a  blessing. 

But  our  little  Naomi  was  lame  as  well  as 
poor.  True,  but  do  you  not  remember  Me- 
phibosheth,  who  was  lame  of  both  feet?  his 


NAOMI'S   NIGHT  WATCH.  215 

nurse  let  him  fall  when  an  infant ;  but  this 
did  not  prevent  him  from  having  a  seat  at  the 
king's  table  (2  Sam.  iv.  4,  and  ix.  7-13)  ; 
neither  will  it  prevent  us  from  a  place  with 
our  heavenly  King,  or  exempt  us  from  some 
sweet  service  for  Him. 

Mephibosheth  had  a  service,  even  to  love 
king  David,  which  he  did  very  dearly ;  and 
love,  pure  faithful  love,  is  a  very  precious  gift, 
and  cannot  be  bought  with  gold,  or  crowns, 
or  kingdoms ;  and  to  those  who  rule  and 
wear  crowns,  who  are  often  surrounded  by 
flatterers,  the  words  of  truth  and  love  are  very 
costly.  Aye,  and  to  those  who  do  not  wear 
crowns,  the  heart  knows  it  is  the  dearest  gift 
in  this  dark  world  of  tears  and  tribulation. 
So,  when  the  Lord  set  Mephibosheth  at  the 
table  of  the  king,  He  not  only  gave  him  a 
service,  but  He  protected  him  ;  and  when  a 
treacherous  servant  strove  to  persuade  David 
that  the  lame  prince  was  his  enemy,  God  en- 
abled him  to  vindicate  himself. 

The  lame  youth  sat  every  day  at  the  king's 
table,  and  when  the  grand  lords  questioned 


216  NAOMI'S  NIGHT  WATCH. 

among  themselves  what  it  meant,  they  learnt 
of  David's  faithful  remembrance  of  his  friend 
Jonathan,  and  how,  for  the  love  of  this  dear 
companion  of  his  youth,  he  sought  out  one 
to  whom  he  could  show  kindness  for  this 
lost  friend's  sake.  And  well  the  poor  lame 
boy  repaid  him;  he  loved  the  king,  he  la- 
mented his  benefactor,  and  cared  not  for 
rank,  or  money,  or  land,  for  the  joy  he  had 
to  see  the  king  safe  again  in  his  own  king- 
dom, after  he  had  been  a  fugitive  before  his 
people.  (2  Sam.  xix.  30.) 

So  you  see  that  there  is  no  impediment  to 
seeking  and  finding  the  Saviour  but  in  our 
own  wicked  hearts ;  and  what  may  at  first 
seem  an  obstacle,  is  often  made  the  source 
of  blessing. 

Had  Naomi  been  able  to  go  into  active  ser- 
vice, very  likely  she  would  have  left  her 
miserable  home,  like  her  sisters,  and  so  never 
have  found  the  school  on  the  hillside,  and 
heard  the  sweet  invitation  of  Jesus,  and  thus 
have  loved  Him  in  early  years.  Perhaps  her 
poor  father  might  not  have  been  led  to  the 


naomi's  night  watch.  2lT 

feet  of  the  Saviour,  and  learned  how  precious 
He  is  to  the  old  sinner  as  well  as  to  the 
young. 

It  is  said  in  the  Word  of  God,  "  The  lame 
take  the  prey  ;  "  and  here  you  see,  as  else- 
where, the  Lord  remembers  them  ;  so,  dear 
reader,  do  not  think  that  poverty,  or  weak- 
ness, or  any  bodily  affliction,  can  be  any  hin- 
drance to  you,  either  from  finding  the  Sa- 
viour, or  in  following  Him  when  you  have 
found  Him  ;  and  the  same  loving  hand  which 
was  nailed  to  the  cross  for  your  sins,  is 
stretched  out  in  love  and  tenderness  to  you, 
as  it  was  to  our  little  lame  Naomi. 


